考前押题01 阅读理解6大常考话题（期中复习专项训练）高二英语下学期北师大版

专题01 阅读理解6大常考话题 话题1 学校生活 Passage 1 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．A 4．C Passage 2 【答案】1．C 2．B 3．B 4．A Passage 3 【答案】1．A 2．D 3．C 4．A Passage 4 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．A 4．D 话题2 亲子关系 Passage 1 【答案】1．A 2．D 3．D 4．A Passage 2 【答案】1．D 2．D 3．A 4．C Passage 3 【答案】1．C 2．D 3．A 4．A Passage 4 【答案】1．C 2．D 3．B 4．C 话题3 友谊 Passage 1 【答案】1．C 2．A 3．A 4．C Passage 2 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．C 4．B Passage 3 【答案】1．D 2．D 3．B 4．D Passage 4 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．C 4．D 话题4 体育健康 Passage 1 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．B 4．A Passage 2 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．C 4．D Passage 3 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．A 4．B Passage 4 【答案】1．A 2．C 3．B 4．C 话题5 环境变化 Passage 1 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．D 4．A Passage 2 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．B 4．C Passage 3 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．D 4．B Passage 4 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．C 4．D 话题6 科技前沿 Passage 1 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．B 4．A Passage 2 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．D 4．D Passage 3 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．B 4．A Passage 4 【答案】1．C 2．C 3．D 4．B 1 / 1 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $专题01 阅读理解6大常考话题 话题1 学校生活 话题4 运动与健康 话题2 亲子关系 话题5 环境变化 话题3 友谊 话题6 科技前沿 1 / 1 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 话题1 学校生活 Passage 1 Like many new graduates, I left university full of hope for the future but with no real idea of what I wanted to do. My degree, with honors, in English literature had not really prepared me for anything practical. I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world somehow, but I had no idea how to do that. That’s when I learned about the Lighthouse Project. I started my journey as a Lighthouse Project volunteer by reading as much as I could about the experiences of previous volunteers. I knew it would be a lot of hard work, and that I would be away from my family and friends for a very long time. In short, I did not take my decision to apply for the Lighthouse Project lightly. Neither did my family. Eventually, however, I won the support of my family, and I sent in all the paperwork needed for application. After countless interviews and presentations, I managed to stand out among the candidates and survive the test alone. Several months later, I finally received a call asking me to report for duty. I would be going to a small village near Abuja, Nigeria. Where? What? Nigeria? I had no idea. But I was about to find out. After completing my training, I was sent to the village that was small and desperately in need of proper accommodation. Though the local villagers were poor, they offered their homes, food, and hearts as if I were their own family. I was asked to lead a small team of local people in building a new schoolhouse. For the next year or so, I taught in that same schoolhouse. But I sometimes think I learned more from my students than they did from me. Sometime during that period, I realized that all those things that had seemed so strange or unusual to me no longer did, though I did not get anywhere with the local language, and returned to the United States a different man. The Lighthouse Project had changed my life forever. 1．What do we know about the author? A．He felt honored to study English literature. B．His dream at university was to become a volunteer. C．He took pride in having contributed to the world. D．His university education focused on theoretical knowledge. 2．How was the writer’s application process? A．Awkward. B．Complex. C．Entertaining. D．Effortless. 3．What did the writer do in the village? A．Working as a teacher. B．Helping villagers build hospitals. C．Raising money for his students. D．Inviting locals to enter his Project. 4．Which can be the best title of the text? A．Lighthouse Project—The Promise of African Education B．The Memorable and Rewarding life in Abuja C．A Life-changing Voluntary Experience D．Lighthouse Project—A Volunteer Organization for New Graduates Passage 2 Wu Xiong, a 40-year-old headmaster, has spent 20 years turning a once-deserted rural school in the mountains into a center for sports and education. In 2004, Wu became headmaster of Tangfang Primary School in Baling Town, Guizhou Province. At that time, the school was merely an old house, with 3 teachers and 75 students. Worse still, many children showed little interest in attending school. To address this issue, Wu had an idea: sports. In 2006, the school held its first sports meeting. “We carried a cement slab (水泥板) from 1.5 kilometers away and used wooden boards as a net for a table tennis competition,” Wu recalled. With more money put into education, Tangfang Primary School got better facilities, but Wu still felt it necessary for students to participate in sporting activities. Now, basketball hoops (篮圈) are designed in three different sizes to suit students of different age groups, while sports equipment storage facilities are never locked up. Wu also makes it a rule that PE cannot yield to other subjects. Now, students have at least 2.5 hours set aside every day for physical activities. Among the 469 students of the school, only six wear glasses. Meanwhile, by participating in various sports competitions, the students learn how to deal with wins and losses properly. According to a recent report, the school's average scores have risen from below 30 in 2004 to over 80 in 2023. Sports have offered the students another way out of the mountains. More than 100 graduates of the school have entered middle schools as sports-focused students. Wu hopes that the happy school memories will help graduates stay connected to their hometown and get ready for their future. 1．What inspired Wu to think of sports as a solution? A．Rich sports resources. B．Requirements from teachers. C．Students' lack of interest in study. D．Children's stress from examinations. 2．What does the underlined phrase "yield to" in Paragraph 3 mean? A．Compare with. B．Give in to. C．Contribute to. D．Take the place of. 3．Why does the author list the numbers in Paragraph 4? A．To show progress in grades. B．To highlight influences of sports. C．To stress the importance of study. D．To introduce types of sports activities. 4．Which can be a suitable title for the passage? A．Headmaster Transformed School With Sports B．A Unique Physical Education Class C．Students Made Breakthroughs in Competition D．The Life Story of a Headmaster Passage 3 Born and raised in the US, Michael used to be a smart and cheerful child who brightened every room he entered. However, his life took an unexpected turn when a severe illness forced him to miss numerous school days, leaving him struggling to keep up with his studies. Later, when he downgraded to a new class, he encountered bullies who made his school days a nightmare (噩梦). That summer, right after his graduating from his primary school, he, together with his parents, visited his grandma in Chongqing, China. Michael immediately fell in love with the city. Well aware of Michael’s situation in the US, his mother decided that they would make Chongqing their new home, hoping that the new environment can provide her son with a fresh start. For Michael, the transition to a local middle school came with its own set of challenges. He struggled with the unfamiliar dialect, the different teaching methods, and school schedules With determination, Michael put himself in his studies, diligently completing his assignments, constantly seeking guidance from his teachers and peers, and he goes so far as to set his alarm for 5 a. m. each morning, all in the name of squeezing in some extra time to memorize Literary Chinese passages (文言文篇目). His hard work paid off. Michael gradually achieved remarkable academic progress, ultimately securing a place in a great local high school. During his senior year, Michael’s substitute English teacher, Linda CHEN, was deeply impressed by his language abilities and shared a video of him confidently speaking English outside of his classroom. The video quickly went viral, and Michael instantly became a sensation (轰动的人物) on campus due to his extraordinary linguistic skills and charming personality. Despite the newfound attention, Michael remained grounded and stayed committed to his studies, prioritizing his academic pursuits above all else. Michael’s diligence bore fruit when he was accepted into the Artificial Intelligence Institute of Wuhan University. His journey showcased the power of determination and resilience (适应能力), proving that even in the face of adversity (困境), one can achieve remarkable success. 1．Why did Michael’s mother decide to make Chongqing their new home? A．To escape from the atmosphere of insecurity B．To get better medical care. C．To seek help from relatives and friends D．To pursue his dream of Chinese learning 2．What helped Michael improve his academic performance in the new school? A．Constant tolerance from teachers B．Michael’s enrolling in additional afterschool programs C．Michael’s participating in extracurricular activities D．Michael’s self-discipline and strong willpower 3．How did Michael become popular on campus? A．By attending a talent show B．Through the recommendation of his teachers C．By having his talent acknowledged. D．By taking advantage of his good appearance 4．What lesson can we learn from Michael’s experience? A．The importance of perseverance in the face of challenges B．The benefits of moving to a new city for educational opportunities C．The significance of learning a foreign language. D．The key impact of a supportive school environment on students’ success Passage 4 Students and Technology in the Classroom I love my blackberry (黑莓手机) — it’s my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me. I also love my laptop computer, as it holds all of my writing and thoughts. Despite this love of technology, I know that there are times when I need to move away from these devices (设备) and truly communicate with others. On one occasion, I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas. Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom, I have a rule-no laptops, IPads, phones, etc. When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy. Most students think that my reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology. There’s a bit of truth to that. Some students think that I am anti-technology. There’s no truth in that at all. I love technology and try to keep up with it so I can relate to my students. The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversations and engage complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration (专心) and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep within themselves for inspiration and ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and make connections between the course material and the class discussion. I’ve been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the evaluations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create. Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge, they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom. I’m not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a rally good reason for the change, I’m sticking to my plan. A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up. 1．Some of the students in the history class were unhappy with ______. A．the course material B．others’ misuse of technology C．discussion topics D．the author’s class rules 2．The underlined word “engage” in para.4 probably means ______. A．explore B．accept C．change D．refuse 3．According to the author, the use of technology in the classroom may ______. A．keep students from doing independent thinking B．encourage students to have deep conversations C．help students to better understand difficult themes D．affect students’ concentration on the teacher’s ideas 4．It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author ______. A．is quite stubborn in teaching B．will give up teaching history C．will change his teaching plan soon D．values technology-free dialogues in his class 话题2 亲子关系 Passage 1 After four years at university, my 21-year-old son returned home and continued his online studies. During his time living independently, he developed a passion for cooking, focusing on meals rich in meat, fat, starches, garlic, and spices. While his brother enjoys these dinners, my husband and I quietly add roasted vegetables to balance our diet. Mostly, we’re grateful that someone else is cooking and that the food is delicious. At his age, I had never lived on my own. My grandmother and mother controlled the kitchen, and my one attempt at cooking a family meal ended badly, leaving my grandmother sick for days. Determined to do things differently, I encouraged my children to use the kitchen independently, hoping they would grow up enjoying cooking rather than fearing it as I had. It worked. My youngest son is now a passionate and careful cook, though the kitchen is always a mess after he’s done. To keep him company, I recently offered to be his sous-chef while he prepared another amazing meal. This also gave me a precious opportunity to spend time with him, as hanging out with parents is no longer his priority. As we cooked together, he directed me with requests like, “Can you crack a couple of eggs into a bowl?” and “Please stir the sugar and rice vinegar.” After each task, I responded with, “Yes, Chef!” Over time, I realized that every “Yes, Chef!” was my way of saying, “I love you.” When the family sat down to eat, I praised his cooking, and he quietly replied, “Thank you, sous-chef.” That simple response was all the comfort I needed. 1．How does the author feel about her son’s cooking most of the time? A．Appreciative of his effort. B．Frustrated by the mess. C．Concerned about his diet. D．Critical of his techniques. 2．What inspired the author to allow her children to cook independently? A．Her grandmother’s death. B．Her family members’ advice. C．Her children’s determination. D．Her own childhood experience. 3．Why did the author want to act as her son’s sous-chef? A．To teach him kitchen skills. B．To keep the kitchen organized. C．To discourage his cooking passion. D．To strengthen parent-child relationship. 4．What does the phrase “Yes, Chef!” symbolize for the author? A．Her love for her son. B．Her respect for her son’s cooking. C．Her expectations of her son. D．Her joy in having meals prepared. Passage 2 My father was always a good gardener. One of my earliest memories is standing without shoes in the freshly tilled (翻耕的) soil, my hands blackened from digging in the ground. As a child, I loved following Dad around in the garden. I remember Dad pushing the tiller ahead in perfectly straight lines. Dad loved growing all sorts of things: yellow and green onions, watermelons almost as big as me, rows of yellow corn, and our favorite-red tomatoes. As I grew into a teenager, I didn’t get so excited about gardening with Dad. Instead of the magical land of possibility, it had turned into some kind of prison. However, as Dad grew older, his love for gardening never disappeared. After all the kids were grown and had started families of their own, Dad turned to gardening like never before. Even when he had cancer, he still took care of his garden. But then, the cancer, bit by bit, invaded his body. I had to do the things he used to do. What really convinced me that Dad was dying was the state of his garden that year. The rows and rows of colorful vegetables were gone. Too tired to weed (除草) them, he simply let them be. He only planted tomatoes. A few years later, I couldn’t even bear to look at anyone’s garden without having strong memories pour over me like cold water from a bucket. Last year, I decided to plant my own garden and started out with just a few tomatoes. That morning, after breaking up an amount of soil, something caught the corner of my eye and I had to smile. It was my eight-year-old son Jerry, happily playing in the freshly tilled soil. 1．Why did the author like the garden when he was a child? A．The garden was freshly tilled by the worker. B．He loved what his mother grew in the garden. C．The garden was planted with colorful flowers. D．He enjoyed being in the garden with his father. 2．What did the author’s father do when all the kids started their own families? A．Stopping his gardening. B．Focusing on planting tomatoes. C．Turning to other hobbies. D．Spending more time on gardening. 3．What can be learned about the garden when the author’s father was dying? A．It was almost deserted. B．It brought the author a great harvest. C．It was redecorated by the author. D．It was turned over to the author’s son. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．Lessons from Gardening B．The Magic of Freshly Tilled Soil C．Gardening through Generations D．A Teenager’s Love for Gardening Passage 3 One day, my 11-year-old daughter told me that she wanted to return a pair of pants on Amazon. “You need to keep clicking the ‘something else’ button if you want to talk to a real person,” I told her. She followed my word, and after a bit of clicking, she managed to talk to a real person and get the pants returned. In the process, I had the chance to think about what this everyday interaction was teaching my daughter. I thought about what it meant to constantly ask for “something else”. It’s not only about having a real person to talk with. It’s equally about the quality of our communication. It’s about thinking something, then saying it, and then having another person think and say something back to you. It seems simple and yet it may become the exception, not the rule. In many cases, it already has. With the “quick responses” at the bottom of Gmail, potential responses often appear right in front of us. “Yes, sure.” “Of course!” or “I got it.” The responses, I’ve noticed, are mostly okay. Sometimes, they’re exactly what I want to say. Occasionally, they’re wildly wrong. At first, I told myself I wouldn’t use those pre-made responses. Soon enough, though, I got in a rush and found they were good. What would happen if our language got automated in general in this way? What if, instead of generating responses, we simply pointed and clicked? Choosing a response is a kind of thinking, but it’s far less accurate than the kind needed to generate content. It has to do more with recognizing a “good enough” response. Instead of starting with a blank board, we critique (评判) things. That’s not useless, but it doesn’t replace thinking in a generative way. If kids only critique something, they won’t have original thoughts. They may become great editors, but they’ll likely struggle to create ideas in fresh ways. There’s no simple solution and certainly no way to turn back the clock on automated talk. Yet, as we move forward, we need to consider carefully how simple changes in communication can have serious effects. If we want to help our kids, the “something else” we searched for — authentic human conversation — should not be the exception, but the rule. 1．What contributes to high-quality communication according to paragraph 2? A．The clear goals. B．The exact expressions. C．The process of thinking. D．The immediate response. 2．How does the author feel about using the pre-made responses? A．Excited and eager to try them out. B．Annoyed and not interested in them. C．Disappointed by their inaccurate suggestions. D．Unwilling but finally aware of their convenience. 3．What would happen to kids with the automation of language? A．Their creativity will suffer. B．Their critical thinking ability will increase. C．Their editing skills will hardly improve. D．Their expressions will be more accurate and efficient. 4．What can be the best title for the text? A．My Reflections on Automated Talk B．My Unforgettable Online Return Experience C．The Art of Guiding Children’s Creativity D．The Benefits of Using Automation in Communication Passage 4 1One afternoon a few months before Tom and I were to be married, Max wandered into the dining room of the house we all shared. I was sorting through a box of old photographs. 2“Who’s that?” he asked. 3“That was my grandfather, the one who died a few months ago.” 4“Hmm. Too bad he had to die.” 5Just as I was about to put the last of the pictures in the box, Max pressed his finger to a face. “And who will this be to me?” 6Beneath his finger I could see the edges of my own face. I was suddenly flooded with a joy which I had no name. This son of the man I loved was becoming my son. We’d have family Christmas cards and school art stuck to the fridge. All these things I’d never allowed myself to want. Now I was becoming a mother. 7I should have known how to say just the right, wise, magical thing. But I didn’t. “I’ll be your second mom,” I said. 8“Oh.” 9“I’m sorry that your first mom died. I liked her.” 10“What should I call you?” he asked. 11My heart pounded, and my stomach turned over. Mama, I wanted to cry. I’ll be your mama and you’ll be my son. I resisted. “You can call me Mom, or Mama. You can also call me Betsy, if you’d rather. Whatever feels okay for you.” 12He stood there a minute. “What’s for dinner?” he asked. 13“Burgers.” 14“Swect,” he said as he walked out of the room. 15At our wedding a few months later, Tom and I said our vows (誓言) to one another. Then Max was invited to stand beside us and I made vows to him. I promised to step into the shoes his mother had been forced to leave behind, to help him remember her, and to be the best mother I could be. 16After the wedding, for the next few days, Max tried out a new title for me. “Can we go bowling?” he’d ask, and then follow the question by mouthing the word mom. Or, “Can we go to the store?” And the mouthed word, mom. Mom was always silent. It seemed he was trying it on, seeing how it felt in his mouth. 17Weeks later as I drove him home from school, Max suddenly said, “I notice I don’t call you Mom.” 18Oof. Who threw that rock at my chest? I breathed to calm my voice. “I noticed that.” 19“When I say Betsy, I mean Mom.” 20“Thanks,” I said. “That’s nice to know.” 21He looked out the window. “Moms die, you know. I think it’s maybe safer if you’re just Betsy.” 22I willed tears away, not wanting to overwhelm him. He had enough to carry. “Thanks, Bud. I appreciate you telling me.” 23“Hey, Betsy?” 24“Yeah,” I said, delighted with the new sound of my old name. 25“What’s for dinner?” he asked. 1．When Betty said “I’ll be your second mom,” (paragraph 7), she ______. A．thought her role was significant to Max B．wished Max could let go of the sad memories C．was looking forward to becoming Max’s mother D．suggested that she was legally responsible for Max 2．According to Max, why did he call Betsy “Betsy” instead of Mom? A．He wants to tell Betsy she is his best friend. B．He still feels shy to address Betsy as Mom. C．He doesn’t want to forget his dead mother. D．He hopes Betsy could always be with him. 3．How does Betsy most probably feel when Max mentions dinner at the end of the passage? A．Confused about Max’s favourite food. B．Happy to lead a regular family life. C．Relieved to have a simple conversation. D．Annoyed with Max’s constant questioning. 4．Why does the author develop the passage with short dialogues? A．To reveal the tension between Max and Betsy. B．To show that Max is avoiding deep conversations. C．To help express the two speakers’ emotions directly. D．To make the passage shorter and easier to understand. 话题3 友谊 Passage 1 When Ghanaian photojournalist Paul Ninson initially pursued a career in photography, he found the challenge discouraging. Photography isn’t exactly valued as a career in Ghana, Ninson says, “If you tell your parents you’re going to be a photographer, it was like, ‘Yuck, what? Go be a lawyer.’” But Ninson felt photography was his calling. Deeply influenced by the family history of storytelling passed down through his grandparents and later attracted by a friend’s images, he developed a love for photography. He sold his mobile phone, bought a camera and began studying photography. Though Ninson began his journey with commercial photography, he soon shifted his focus to stories closer to his heart-those of African history and culture that he would capture as a photojournalist. Ninson still sought formal education in photojournalism. Unable to find a suitable program in Africa, he left Ghana in 2019 to study in New York City. There, he read the center’s hundreds of photobooks. In Ghana, he only had access to five or six of such books. As he ventured deeper into the city, he discovered more visual histories of Africa than he had experienced at home, such as documentation of Ghana’s first president at the New York Public Library. The libraries Ninson visited were unwilling to give him their archives(档案)to return to Africa, which led to his idea of creating a leading photobook library in Africa that held such stories. This idea has been realized with the creation of Dikan Center in Accra, Ghana’s capital. In Ghanaian artist Daniella Afful’s eyes, Dikan Center is the beginning of for the growth of Ghana’s creative community, “Dikan Center has magnified(放大)art and photography. Dikan Center has kind of given us the hope that we may soon have a music library and we could have a film library in Ghana—anything just to preserve our history and make history.” 1．How did Ninson’s grandparents affect his career choice? A．They bought a camera for Ninson. B．They asked him to consult his friend. C．They carried on the storytelling tradition. D．They showed many photos of his family. 2．Why did Ninson go to America? A．He desired for chances to better himself. B．He hunted for more approaches to culture. C．He planned to sell hundreds of photobooks. D．He wanted to return to commercial photography. 3．Which of the following can best describe Ninson? A．Innovative and hard-working. B．Generous and caring. C．Optimistic and humorous. D．Brave and outgoing. 4．What is the author’s purpose in writing the last paragraph? A．To call on people to build more libraries in Ghana. B．To promote the development of art in Ghana. C．To highlight the significance of Dikan Center. D．To discuss the challenges of preserving African history. Passage 2 Kimberly Camp’s lively gallery in New Jersey is a treasure house of creativity, filled with a rich collection of artworks from around the world. Among the eye-catching displays are Camp’s own handmade dolls which bring every corner of the gallery to life with stories waiting to be discovered. Camp’s artistic journey kicked off when her mother once allowed her to pick out whatever crafts she wanted to try in the art store Zabar. She later pursued her passion by studying Studio Arts and Art History at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a Master’s degree in Arts Administration. Though her later path wasn’t always smooth, Camp’s passion for art never faded. Her determination and talent paved the way for her remarkable career. As a doll maker, Kimberly Camp not only uses a diverse range of materials collected from across the globe to add the dolls’ unique charm but establishes a strong connection to African cultural heritage in her dolls. Her first dolls “Brown Babies” featured 32 traditional African dress designs, capturing people’s hearts with their cultural richness. Her breakthrough moment came in 1982 when her 55 Kwanzaa (宽扎节) dolls were sold out in just a few hours, pushing her into the spotlight. Soon after, she introduced “Kimkins”, a line of dolls dressed in traditional African fabrics, with distinctive hand-painted faces. At their pinnacle in 1985~1986, Camp produced 2,000 “Kimkins” annually. In fact, Camp’s dolls are more than toys but recognized as “soft sculptures” mirroring her personality and humor. Over years, her works have been shown in over 100 exhibitions across the U. S. and around the world. In 2020, Camp received the Award of Excellence: Craft Makes Us Human for her dolls. Today, Camp’s hands are never still. She continues to explore new artistic fields, fully absorbed in every moment of her art-filled life. 1．What inspired Kimberly Camp’s early interest in art? A．Her work in a gallery. B．Her visit to an art store. C．Her family background. D．Her university education. 2．What do we know about Kimberly Camp’s dolls? A．They reflect a new art form. B．They inspire more American artists. C．They are specially sold during Kwanzaa. D．They showcase traditional African elements. 3．What does the underlined word “pinnacle” in paragraph 3 probably mean? A．Crisis. B．Exploration. C．Summit. D．Adventure. 4．Which of the following could be the best title for this text? A．Telling the History of Africa Through Dolls B．Weaving African Heritage into Soft Sculptures C．Kimberly Camp: Master of Arts Administration D．Kwanzaa Dolls: Bridging Generations with Tradition Passage 3 During 20 years of working at his family’s supermarket, José Luis-Reig, known as Pep, never gave a thought to the world of academia(学术界). It was only when visiting the classrooms of universities with his two teenage daughters that he suddenly felt himself at home among ‘the atmosphere of learning’. After school Pep had intended to study biology but was called on to help run the family business instead. When he was at school, he developed a reputation for helping others and so was invited onto the local radio, where the presenter said. “You’re like a young psychologist(心理学家).” Pep was no stranger to change. The family business had originally been a sawmill(锯木厂). But when Pep, then 27, was asked if he wanted to take over, he decided to change the mill into the town’s first supermarket. One day in the shop, the radio presenter’s comment came back to him. After running the idea past his family, he applied to a university in Palma to study psychology and, aged 46, was accepted. “I had to get used to being much older than the other students.” he says. “But I ended up helping the others because I’d had more life experience.” Pep came top of his year and impressed his tutors(导师)so much that he was offered a job researching and teaching. Now 52, and still in the job. He adds, “My only regret is not having done it earlier.” The traditional view used to be that, while making changes in your youth was acceptable, you should then settle on a career and stick to it. But today record numbers of 50-and 60-somethings are choosing to take on new challenges. Job satisfaction becomes increasingly significant when you’ve only got a few miles on the clock. 1．Why did Pep determine to return to school at the age of 46? A．He was eager to help others. B．He was tired of staying at the same job for so long. C．He decided to earn a degree and make more money. D．Accompanying his daughters to universities inspired him to learn. 2．What caused Pep to quit his dream of further studying? A．Failing to achieve excellent academic results. B．Getting bored with the atmosphere of learning. C．The desire to try his hand at the commercial market. D．The request of taking over the family business from home. 3．How does Pep feel about his present situation? A．Dissatisfied. B．Appreciative. C．Doubtful. D．Confused. 4．What does the text intend to convey? A．Great hopes make great man. B．A brave attempt is half success. C．Do what you say, say what you do! D．It’s never too late to fulfill your dream. Passage 4 A young woman sits down at the piano. Her long flowing brown hair frames a friendly face. And then she begins to sing. Her unexpectedly mature voice attracted everyone in the room. This is Norah Jones, award-winning singer and songwriter. Norah Jones was born on March 30, 1979, in New York City. She is the daughter of the legendary Rxdyi Shankar, a very famous guitar player; but Norah was brought up entirely by her mother Sue. At 4 years old, she and her mother moved to the Dallas suburb, Texas. Her earliest musical influence came from her mother’s extensive LP collection. She began singing in church choirs at age five, took piano lessons two years later, and briefly played alto saxophone in junior high. In the course of serving customers and laying tables in a fast restaurant, Jones soon started a band in which she was a lead singer, of course, and played piano as well. In October 2000, the band ambitiously brought a demo to EMI Blue Note Records. At a meeting with Blue Note president Bruce in the following year, Jones played her three-song tape, hoping to earn a break. Bruce was so impressed with this young girl’s talents that he signed her on the spot. After a year of work, Norah Jones released her debut album, Come Away with Me. Norah Jones has already sold 2.6 million copies of the album, which is 10 times more than any album in Blue Note history. Despite the lack of advertisement, her album was inching its way up the music charts while the debut single Don’t Know Why was climbing up the Adult Top 40 Chart. The singer already enjoyed a success at the Grammy Awards in 2003, where she picked up five trophies in the major categories(Album of the Year, Record of the Year Trophy for Don’t Know Why, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Don’t Know Why, and Best Pop Vocal Album). It’s clear that this was only the beginning for Miss Jones. 1．What motivated Jones’ interest in music when young? A．Her childhood experience. B．Her mother’s preference in music. C．Her participation in church choirs. D．Her mother’s extensive LP collection. 2．What did Jones do before being signed by EMI Blue Note Records? A．Work as a waitress. B．Study in a high school. C．Play the piano for customers. D．Compose songs for a band. 3．When did Jones release her debut album? A．In 2000. B．In 2001. C．In 2002. D．In 2003. 4．What can we know about her debut single Don’t Know Why? A．It was composed by Jones. B．It sold well through advertisement. C．It hit the top in the Adult Top 40 Chart. D．It won several awards in the Grammy Awards in 2003. 话题4 体育健康 Passage 1 Whether you want to assess your hormone (荷尔蒙) levels or heart health, find out why you’re tired all the time or get a general wellness profile, increasing numbers of at-home self-testing tools are promising to help. Often, these are marketed as a flexible way of taking control of your personal health. Self-diagnosis tests are flooding the market. “Many consumers are using them because they’re accessible, because it can take weeks to get a doctor’s appointment, and they might be denied the test they want,” says Patti Shih, a sociologist. Although some self-tests might be useful, there are a range of problems associated with using them, such as lack of medical guidance. Doctors will look at a patient’s medical history and assess symptoms before deciding on the appropriate method of diagnosis. They will also follow up and interpret any results. But with self-testing, all of that may be missing. Others might give accurate results but still won’t be particularly helpful. Even some of them aren’t backed by science. For example, some companies market saliva (唾液) tests as a way to detect hormonal issues. However, scientific evidence shows that saliva tests are not reliable, as they do not account for the complex interactions between hormones in the body. Shih has been studying YouTube influencers who promote self-diagnosis. Her concerns include misleading information, the risk of over-testing, and that self-testing may lead to unnecessary use of non-evidence-based supplements and treatments that carry health risks. “Perhaps most concerning are the cancer self-tests being marketed and sold in the US. These claim to detect over 50 types of cancer before symptoms have occurred.” she added. Largely thanks to advances in diagnostic technology and digital health, in the US alone, sales of direct-to-consumer tests increased from $15 million in 2010 to $1.15 billion in 2022. Self-testing isn’t likely to go away, so experts are calling for better regulation and for patients to have clearer information about when testing is recommended and when it is not. 1．Why do people choose self-testing tools? A．They can assess hormone levels accurately. B．They can replace professional medical advice. C．They are effective in controlling disease process. D．They are superior in availability and flexibility. 2．What do the third and fourth paragraphs mainly discuss? A．The wide popularity of self-testing. B．Some failed cases about self-testing. C．The associated problems of self-testing. D．Some scientific doubts about self-testing. 3．What is Shih’s biggest concern? A．Misuse of untested supplements. B．Promotion of so-called cancer self-tests. C．Misleading information from sales markets. D．Hidden risks of too much self-testing at home. 4．What suggestion do the experts give for self-testing? A．Self-testing should be managed intensively. B．Consumers should stop self-testing immediately. C．Companies should tackle all problems in diagnostic technology. D．The government should make self-testing affordable to consumers. Passage 2 An hour’s extra sleep a night can shave 270 calories off people’s daily diets, new research suggests—the equivalent of around three chocolate digestive biscuits. Over three years, this could lead to a weight loss of 26 pounds—simply by sleeping more, the researchers said. A team from the University of Chicago wanted to look at how sleep interacts with obesity and so carried out a clinical trial with 80 adults. Writing in the journal Jama Internal Medicine, they found that young, overweight adults who habitually slept fewer than 6.5 hours a night were able to add an extra 1.2 hours of sleep per night after undergoing counselling to improve their sleeping habits. The results showed that getting more sleep reduced people’s overall intake by an average of 270 calories per day, with some people consuming 500 fewer calories. Dr Esra Tasali, from the University of Chicago’s sleep centre, said the study had not intended to look at weight loss. “But even within just two weeks, we have quantified evidence showing a decrease in caloric intake and a negative energy balance—caloric intake is less than calories burned.” she said. “If healthy sleep habits are kept over longer period. this would lead to clinically important weight loss over time. Many people are working hard to find ways to decrease their caloric intake to lose weight—well, just by sleeping more, you may be able to reduce it considerably. The study did not attempt to restrict people’s diets. Instead, they slept in their own beds, tracked their sleep with wearable devices, and otherwise followed a normal lifestyle without any instructions on diet or exercise. Dr Tasali said that limiting the use of devices such as mobile phones before bedtime helped people get more sleep. She added. “We saw that after just a single sleep counselling session. participants could change their bedtime habits enough to lead to an increase in sleep time.” 1．Why did the researchers carry out the study? A．To find how to reduce weight. B．To know the proper sleep time. C．To learn about healthy sleep habits. D．To study the link between sleep and obesity. 2．What’s Dr Tasali’s attitude to the findings of the study? A．Doubtful. B．Confident. C．Negative. D．Ambiguous. 3．What can we infer from the last paragraph? A．Participants should go on a restricted diet and do more exercise. B．Limiting the use of digital devices is the best way to get enough sleep. C．Participants tracked their sleep without disturbing their normal lifestyle. D．A single sleep counselling session is useless for participants to change. 4．What’s the best title of the text? A．A Strange Way to Lose Your Weight B．Young and Overweight Adults Need More Sleep C．Forming a Regular Sleep Habit Is Good for Your Health D．Cut 270 Calories by Sleeping for an Extra Hour Every Night Passage 3 In my childhood, my parents would take me to watch games. I loved the excitement I would feel when we went to watch these events, especially when the scores were close until the very end of the game. My meaningful attempt at sports began with T-ball at the age of three, progressed to the basketball court at six, and finally turned into a firm devotion to the game of baseball from the age of eight onward. One of my most memorable moments was at the World Series when I was eleven and played on the Texas Rattlers. The July heat was unbearable. It was the semi-final game. Sweating like a pig, we ran into the dugout for our last at-bat (上场击球); we were down one run now. I was the second hitter and captain of the team, and I was ready for this moment. In the next few seconds, I had the chance to show my strength as a hitter and my ability to be a leader under pressure by hitting a home run! We carried the day! As the team captain, I remember the time I had to give a speech to my team because we had lost an important game. I was nervous, but I knew it was my responsibility to cheer my team up when they were cast down. This experience has shaped my mind, making me become more independent, so I’m obtaining the ability to talk like a leader in front of my team and a group. Sports get it through my head that you can’t win at everything in life all the time. On and of the field, I am more iron-willed, disciplined (遵守纪律的) and respectful, and a better leader. I have had so many awesome experiences through sports, which have taught me much and prepared me for the future. The memories of all the trips and diverse experiences I have had will be with me for a lifetime. 1．What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph? A．He often switched sports. B．He was a gifted child in sports. C．He had a busy childhood. D．He was fond of sports from childhood. 2．How did the author feel during the semi-final at the World Series? A．Stressed and tired. B．Proud and confident. C．Unbearable and down. D．Surprised and energetic. 3．What was tough for the author according to paragraph 3? A．Leading his team to face failure. B．Giving a speech before the team. C．Improving his leadership qualities. D．Overcoming his own nervousness. 4．Which can be a suitable title for the text? A．Interesting Life of Sports B．Life Lessons from Sports C．Deep Affection for Sports D．Special Moments in Sports Passage 4 Can you imagine getting a tooth pulled out or other major dental procedures without pain-killer? A scientist colleague of mine used a “focus in” technique instead of requesting pain-killer at the dentist. Each time the dentist touched the tooth, my colleague felt bubbles of joy, and this lasted until the dentist interrupted by asking, “Why are you smiling?” A fair question at this point is why anyone would want to be fully aware of intense or painful procedures. But what may sound like a punishing choice—to directly face hurt or suffering—may in some instances be beneficial. A stream of scientific articles suggests that there are benefits in turning toward discomfort or negative emotions with acceptance. In addition, all of us can gain from finding ways to cope with stress and suffering—particularly when larger circumstances are beyond our control. As a researcher who has studied meditation (冥想) for more than 20 years, I believe that the development of calmness, a central element of certain mindfulness meditation practices, can help. I’m not advocating for people to put themselves in dangerous or painful positions. But when we push ourselves into challenging or confusing situations, much like trainers who push athletes just past their comfort zone to make gains, learning often happens. Indeed, a 2022 study with more than 2,000 people demonstrated that those participants who were publicly encouraged to push themselves into awkward, uncomfortable situations—including taking classes to boost self-confidence and reading about opposing viewpoints—later reported the greatest degree of personal growth. My own research indicates that meditation provides an ideal way to practice turning toward discomfort-particularly when it trains up one’s calm mind. People who reported higher levels of calmness reported less psychological distress (困扰). Right now people are hurting for many reasons and looking for ways to cope. Without question, there are many important steps we need to take collectively to respond to these challenges. But we can each build our ability to recover on a personal level as well by cultivating greater acceptance of our experience—good or bad, painful or pleasant—in the present moment. 1．The author uses the first question in Paragraph 1 to________. A．introduce the topic. B．illustrate an argument. C．highlight an opinion. D．promote a pain-killer. 2．What is the benefit of turning towards discomfort and negative emotions? A．It helps in avoiding suffering fully. B．It increases psychological distress. C．It leads to personal growth. D．It promotes a sense of calmness. 3．What is the author’s view on putting oneself in dangerous or painful positions? A．The author encourages it as a way to improve fitness. B．The author discourages it due to its potential harm. C．The author believes it is necessary for personal growth. D．The author recommends it to those confused trainers. 4．What can be a suitable title for the text? A．Turning Towards Discomfort: My Experience of Staying Stressful and Successful B．Expanding Comfort Zones: The Difference Between Discomfort and Calmness C．Mindfulness and Meditation: The Tools for Dealing with Stress and Suffering D．Cultivating Calmness: The Benefits of Mindfulness in Enjoying Dental Operation 话题5 环境变化 Passage 1 In the United States, perhaps no insect has been counted as often as the butterfly. “There’s a lot of passion for them, and they’re very amazing,” says Collin Edwards, an ecologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. That enthusiasm has led volunteers to spend countless hours monitoring butterfly populations over the years. “Thanks to their efforts, we have one of the world’s best insect databases,” Edwards adds. However, this data came from various separate programs, each slightly different in approach. To get a single, country-wide look at the state of these insects, Edwards and a team of more than 30 butterfly researchers brought together and analyzed all these efforts — a total of 12. 6 million butterfly sightings. Their findings are alarming. Since 2000, butterfly numbers in the US have dropped by an average of 22%, according to a study published in Science. Declines have been recorded across the country and among a wide range of species. “A 1% — 2% decrease per year may not sound severe, but over decades, it is staggering,” says biologist David Wagner from the University of Connecticut. “The natural world is losing diversity at an unexpected rate.” Only 3% of the 554 species examined showed growth, mainly those that adapt well to human environments. More concerning is that the median species declined by over 40%, indicating a broad and serious trend. Huge change of natural land, for agriculture or other kinds of development, have decreased the natural habitats butterflies need to live in. Pesticides used in farming are directly harming many species, especially in the Midwest. And climate change is pushing creatures out of their comfort zones. Solving this crisis will take national or international action. While lots of policies are needed to address climate change and control pesticides, individuals can also help. “We can’t stop climate change alone, but we can prevent habitat loss,” says Edwards. “Planting flowers that can provide food and shelter for butterflies helps them survive despite environmental challenges.” 1．Why do volunteers track butterfly populations? A．They hope to feed amazing butterflies. B．They have a strong interest in the species. C．They want to confirm some findings about the species. D．They have seldom counted butterfly populations before. 2．What does the underlined word “staggering” in paragraph 3 mean? A．Reasonable. B．Accurate C．Interesting. D．Shocking. 3．What does paragraph 5 mainly talk about? A．The side effects of climate change. B．A latest trend in agricultural development. C．Pesticides used in modern farming practices. D．Factors driving declines in butterfly populations. 4．What does Edwards intend to say regarding saving butterflies? A．Small efforts can make a difference. B．Individuals play a minor part in it. C．National policies are top concerns. D．Planting flowers can avoid habitat loss. Passage 2 Hadeda ibises, known as “African alarm clocks” for their loud calls, have long legs and thin beaks (鸟喙) and shiny feathers on their wings. Historically restricted to northeastern South Africa, hadedas have significantly expanded their range to many urban areas. Various ibises use remote-touch to detect movements of prey (猎物) in the soil and locate their hidden place. This ability is facilitated by a sensory organ in their beaks, called the bill-tip organ, which developed during the time of the dinosaurs. My recent research confirmed that hadedas have this“sixth sense” and found it is closely tied to soil moisture (湿度) levels. We conducted sensory tests with hadedas in bird cages. We presented them with boxes of soil containing buried worms (虫), masking any sounds with white noise and mixing dead worms into the soil to remove scent cues (气味线索). The birds consistently found live worms faster than dead ones, indicating they are able to sense movements of prey and use remote-touch to find them. Further testing revealed that hadedas found worms more quickly in wetter soils. If the soil was too dry, they lost this ability and had to rely on random searching. These findings suggest that the hadedas’ expansion in SouthAfrica is related to increased artificial watering systems. They require wet soil to use remote-touch effectively,which could explain their absence in dry regions. Droughts and heatwaves, expected to worsen with climate change, could threaten their population by making prey detection more challenging. The study highlights the broader implications for other remote-touch hunting birds, many of which are already endangered. As soil moisture levels decrease, these birds could become more at risk, stressing the importance of considering sensory requirements in conservation efforts. 1．What do we know about hadeda ibises? A．They are known for shiny feathers. B．They barely see any rise in numbers. C．They recall images of the dinosaurs. D．They have a specialized sensory organ. 2．Why were white noise and dead worms used in the experiment? A．To get a more reliable result. B．To add experimental items. C．To copy natural habitats. D．To avoid disturbing the subjects. 3．What does the research suggest about the impact of climate change on hadedas? A．Climate change will decrease their reliance on soil moisture. B．Droughts could make it more difficult for them to find prey. C．Increased rainfall will help them relocate to urbanized areas. D．Rising temperatures could increase their feeding efficiency. 4．What does the text mainly talk about? A．The specialty of hadedas’ organs. B．The masters of dry land hunting. C．Hadedas’ prey detection in wet soil. D．Hadedas ibises’ urban expansion. Passage 3 Many news reports focus on climate change these days. Extreme heat, wildfires, floods, homeless polar bears... How do you feel when reading worrying news about climate change? You may believe that people are becoming insensitive to the warming planet, accepting that it is only getting worse. A research team at Pennsylvania State University, US, reported otherwise. To record how the news can impact people’s emotions, participants were first exposed to negative news stories about climate change for three days. They then continued to read negative news headlines for seven days. In the first three days, the participants experienced greater fear and less hope, which can potentially hurt an audience’s belief that they can do anything to tackle the problem. However, during the seven-day-long exposure, the fear peaked and then held steady (稳定的). “We saw the opposite pattern in our second study. The more exposure people had to these threatening news stories each day, the more likely they are to think that they can make a difference in tackling climate change,” Christofer Skurka, the paper’s lead author told the Pennsylvania State University website. According to the researchers, one possibility is that when the public hears about climate change threats, they may convince themselves that they have control over the situation. They will then believe that their actions may make a difference. Knowing that everyone is able to help is only the first step. According to a study that analyzed information from 430 different studies, what motivates people the most to change their behavior is social comparison. For example, if a person’s neighbors follow a low-carbon lifestyle, such as driving electric cars, the person may feel social pressure and become more likely to follow this behavior. This happens because people usually judge their own behavior and follow social norms (规范). Another effective motivation is providing financial rewards to consumers, helping them save money. “There are so many routes to our goals,” Matthew Goldberg, the co-author of the study, told Scientific American. As Goldberg pointed out, future research like this can help policymakers decide how best to encourage people to ward more climate-friendly habits. 1．How did the participants react to negative news in the second study? A．They found the news unbelievable. B．They lost hope in tackling climate change. C．They experienced greater fear for the future. D．They felt a strong sense of social responsibility. 2．What encourages people most toward more climate-friendly behavior? A．Effective policy. B．Healthy lifestyle. C．Social influence. D．Financial support. 3．What is Paragraph 5 mainly about? A．Responses to climate change education. B．T he effectiveness of community initiatives. C．T he impact of social norms on environment. D．Ways to encourage climate-friendly behavior. 4．What is Goldberg’s attitude towards similar future research? A．Doubtful. B．Optimistic. C．Objective. D．Indifferent. Passage 4 In the age of AI, worries about its impact on the environment are snowballing. For example, asking ChatGPT a question uses ten times more energy than an old-fashioned search. The development of AI has also caused a big increase in greenhouse-gas emissions. Google’s emissions went up nearly 50% from 2019 to 2023. However, these concerns might be overstated. In fact, AI may be less energy-hungry than many people assume. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that the electricity used by data centres could become three times as much within five years. But at present, the 1.5% of global electricity consumption related to data centres mainly comes from things like streaming, social media and online shopping. Moreover, some of AI’s electricity use will help with greening the economy. AI is already helping improve the efficiency of electrical grids (电网), cut fuel use in shipping and spot invisible leaks of greenhouse gas. Policymakers and industry leaders face the task of maximizing AI’s advantages while minimizing its climate effects. The best way would be for governments to set a proper price for carbon and let the market operate. But because a global carbon price remains a distant dream, focusing on other three measures are more down-to-earth. The first is more openness. Starting in August 2026, the EU will require some AI developers to report how much energy they use in detail. That approach should be copied elsewhere. A second is to rethink how data centers operate. The IEA notes that being able to shift workloads between different data centers at different times could reduce stress and help balance energy grids. Third, technology companies must keep their promises about protecting the environment instead of depending on buying renewable-energy credits. Doubling down on such approaches would help transform AI from climate suspect to climate hero. 1．What is the main concern about AI? A．Its inability to reduce emissions. B．Its impact on social development. C．Its shock on old-fashioned search. D．Its high-level energy consumption. 2．What can be inferred from the second paragraph? A．AI’s environmental-friendly potential remains tested. B．AI has a minor role in the current electricity consumption. C．AI is currently the most effective way to reduce emissions. D．The process of AI detecting gas leaking is easy to achieve. 3．Which solution is more realistic to minimize AI’s climate effects? A．Fixing a proper price for carbon. B．Allowing the market to operate. C．Reconsidering data center operations. D．Purchasing renewable-energy credits. 4．Which of the following is the best title for text? A．AI and Climate: A Battle of Balancing. B．Climate: A Victi m or a Beneficiary of AI? C．AI’s next target: Environmental Protection. D．AI: A Threat or a Contributor to the Climate? 话题 6 科技前沿 Passage 1 Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new artificial intelligence(AI)method that can accurately predict gene (基因) activity in any human cell, essentially revealing the cell’s inner mechanisms (机制). Detailed in the latest issue of Nature, this system has the potential to change how scientists study cancer, genetic disorders, and other diseases. “Predictive generalizable computational models allow to reveal biological processes in a fast and accurate way. These methods can effectively conduct lots of computational experiments, boosting and guiding traditional experimental approaches,” says Raul Rabadan, senior author of the new paper. Traditional biological methods show how cells function or respond to changes, but they lack the ability to predict these processes. Recent advances in AI and massive biological data collections are making this shift possible. However, using AI to predict gene activity inside cells has been a greater challenge — until now. Rabadan’s team developed an AI model trained on gene expression data from over 1.3 million normal human cells. Unlike earlier models trained on limited data, this system uses genome sequences (基因组序列) and accessibility data to predict which genes are active in any cell. The process is similar to how language models like MindLink, an AI chat tool, work: It learns patterns from data and applies them to new situations. Testing showed the model could accurately predict gene activity in cell types it had not encountered, matching experimental results closely. The researchers applied the AI model to study pediatric leukemia, a childhood cancer caused by inherited mutations (遗传变异). The model predicted how these mutations disturb critical processes in cells, a finding later confirmed through experiments. This understanding highlights the specific mechanisms causing the disease. The AI model could also reveal unexplored regions of the genome, often linked to cancer. These “dark” regions may play key roles in disease. Already, Rabadan is working with researchers at Columbia and other universities, exploring different cancers, from brain to blood cancers, learning the grammar of regulation in normal cells, and how cells change in the process of cancer development. 1．What is a problem about traditional biological methods? A．They are difficult to combine with AI. B．They can’t predict how cells work. C．They are expensive in plenty of research. D．They can’t collect biological data effectively. 2．Why does the author mention MindLink in paragraph 4? A．To remove public doubts about AI chat tools. B．To introduce the disadvantages of AI tools. C．To explain the experimental results from Rabadan’s team. D．To clarify how the AI model functions. 3．What does paragraph 5 mainly stress about the new AI model? A．Its popularity. B．Its application value. C．Its complexity. D．Its design inspiration. 4．Which can be a suitable title for the text? A．New AI Model Exposes Secrets of Human Cells B．Scientists Unlock the Secret of Blood Cancers C．Advances in AI Fuel a Heated Debate in Biology D．AI Tools Are Widely Used to Treat Rare Diseases Passage 2 A new study in the journal Scientific Reports finds AI chatbots can imitate famous poets so effectively that they can fool many human readers, and non-experts often can’t reliably distinguish between poems written by William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot or ChatGPT-3.5. The researchers conducted two experiments: the first asked participants to determine whether a poem was written by a human or AI, and the second assessed the quality of the poems. In both cases, the AI-generated poems either passed as human-written or even outperformed those by human writers. Participants, who were unaware of the true origins of the poems, rated the AI-generated poems higher on average, considering them more inspiring, meaningful, moving, and profound than the human-authored ones. So, how did this happen? Researchers believe the appeal of AI-generated poems lies in their simplicity and clarity. These poems better convey an image, mood, emotion, or theme to non-expert poetry readers. Consequently, participants might have misunderstood the complexity of human poetry as AI incoherence (不连贯性). Understanding human-authored poetry also requires deep and critical thinking. However, modern readers seem unwilling to engage in this kind of mental labor, preferring texts that offer “instant answers,” writes Andrew Dean, a literary scholar at Deakin University in Australia. Michele Elam, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI, raised a key concern about how AI may shape people’s relationships with art. She argued that the issue isn’t whether AI-generated poetry can match or exceed human authenticity (真实性) but that we might lose sight of how art is connected to our lived experiences. “Literature, including poetry, is meaningful because it provides a way of naming and describing our realities,” Elam wrote in an email, “If we only see selected images and language in our social feeds, it could limit our ability to understand the world, remember the past, and imagine the future.” 1．What can we learn from the two experiments? A．Human poems are more creative than AI-generated poems. B．Many participants can distinguish AI-generated poems quickly. C．Only a small number of participants preferred AI-generated poems. D．AI-generated poems won higher praise than human poems on average. 2．Which of the following is a characteristic of AI-generated poems according to the passage? A．They are full of complex language. B．They are simple and clear in expression. C．They are hard to understand for non-experts. D．They demand a lot of critical thinking from readers. 3．The misunderstanding of human-authored poetry as AI-incoherence by participants may be due to ________. A．The inherent defects in human-authored poetry. B．The poor quality of the language used in human-authored poetry. C．The lack of proper education on appreciating poetry among participants. D．The participants’ habit of expecting simplicity, as AI-generated poems provided. 4．Which statement will Michele Elam probably agree with? A．AI is revolutionizing the way we appreciate literary works. B．AI-generated literature has challenged human writers’ abilities. C．AI-generated art helps enhance our understanding of the world. D．AI may lead to a disconnection between art and human experiences. Passage 3 Shadows are often associated with darkness and uncertainty. Now, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) are giving shadows a positive spin by demonstrating a way to harness this common but often overlooked optical (光学的) effect to generate electricity. The team created a device called a shadow-effect energy generator (SEG), which makes use of the contrast in illumination (照明) between lit and shadowed areas to generate electricity. It’s made up of a series of thin strips of gold film on a silicon layer, which is then placed on a flexible plastic base. “In conventional optoelectronics (光电子学) where a steady source of light is used to power devices, shadows are undesirable, since they degrade the performance of devices. In this work, we took advantage of the illumination contrast caused by shadows as an indirect source of power. The contrast in illumination causes a voltage (电压) difference between the shadow and illuminated sections, resulting in an electric current. This novel concept of harvesting energy in the presence of shadows is unprecedented.” explained research team leader Professor Tan Swee Ching. Mobile electronic devices such as smart phones, smart glasses and e-watches require efficient and continuous power supply. As these devices are worn both indoors and outdoors, wearable power sources that could harness surrounding light can potentially improve the function of these devices. While commercially available solar cells can perform this role in an outdoor environment, their energy harvesting efficiency drops significantly under indoor conditions where shadows are persistent. This new approach to maximizing the efficiency of energy harvesting is both exciting and timely. “When the whole SEG is under illumination or in shadow, the amount of electricity generated is very low or none at all. When a part of the SEG is illuminated, a significant electrical output is detected. We also found that the best surface area for electricity generation is when half of the SEG is illuminated and the other half in shadow, as this gives enough area for charge generation and collection respectively.” said co- team leader Professor Andrew Wee. The NUS researchers are also looking at developing wearable SEGs attached to clothing to harvest energy during normal daily activities. Another promising area of research is the development of low- cost SEG for efficient harvesting of energy from indoor lighting. 1．Why are shadows considered undesirable in traditional optoelectronics? A．They serve no useful purpose. B．They weaken device performance. C．They are rare in outdoor conditions. D．They are difficult to control or predict. 2．What do we know about the SEG? A．It’s specially designed to work in open areas. B．It will replace existing solar cells once and for all. C．It’s most effective when fully positioned in light or in shadow. D．It requires a balance of light and shadow to maximize electricity generation. 3．What can we learn from the last paragraph? A．The SEG is unlikely to work efficiently in dark places. B．The researchers are looking to reduce the cost of the SEG. C．The development of SEG is limited by its high production cost. D．The researchers are developing wearable SEGs attached to smart phones. 4．What does the text mainly talk about? A．An innovative use of shadows to generate electricity. B．The problems with shadows in conventional optoelectronics. C．The challenges of adapting technology for wearable devices. D．A need for efficient power supply in mobile electronic devices. Passage 4 The differences in health outcomes are neither new nor unknown. From differences in life span to uneven access to quality healthcare, the so-called “Health Gap” is a persistent and troubling indication of inequality. People living in low and middle-income countries are far more likely to die from preventable and treatable causes. According to the World Health Organization, obvious differences in health outcomes persist (持续存在) within countries, cutting along socioeconomic and geographic lines. Closing these health gaps is both a moral and practical need because every human being has a right to a healthy, dignified life; practical because health inequities bring about substantial economic and social costs. Health inequities could cost the U. S. economy approximately $ 320 billion annually and rise to $ 1 trillion by 2040 if not addressed. These figures emphasize the need for systemic solutions that look at the root causes. Artificial intelligence has entered the scene as a new tool in the attempt to remake the health system. Broadly speaking, pattern recognition and personalized care are the two focuses in that context. AI applications can detect diseases—often earlier and more accurately than humans—tailor treatments to individual patients, and support healthcare professionals in managing complex caseloads (病例). Preventive interventions can save lives and resources while increasing the quality of life of humans. AI-powered prediction models have been used to identify patients at high risk of complications or chronic (慢性病) conditions such as kidney disease, which otherwise often goes unnoticed until significant damage is done to the body. Beyond clinical settings, AI-driven analyses of large datasets — from hospital records to socioeconomic indicators — can highlight at-risk communities, helping policymakers and health organizations distribute resources more effectively. By locating under-served areas and identifying populations least likely to access preventive services, AI can guide targeted community interventions, mobile clinics, health education programs, and other initiatives to close the health gap. While the potential is large, AI’s effectiveness in closing the health gap depends on more than just technological advancement. AI must be deliberately designed, trained, tested, and targeted to bring out the best in and for people and the planet. 1．What can we learn about the health gap from paragraph 1? A．It rarely exists in wealthy countries. B．It is the root of economic difference. C．It refers to unfairness in health outcomes. D．It shows the equal distribution of resources. 2．What do the figures indicate in paragraph 2? A．Economic trouble in US. B．Costly medical expenses in US. C．The urgency of closing health gap. D．The moral dilemma facing Americans. 3．What can AI do to improve the health system? A．Prevent the spread of diseases. B．Cure patients with chronic conditions. C．Replace doctors to manage caseloads. D．Detect diseases and offer tailored treatments. 4．What is the passage mainly about? A．How AI serves to get rid of inequality. B．What role AI plays in closing health gap. C．What challenges AI faces in medical field. D．How AI stimulates technological advancement. $专题01 阅读理解6大常考话题 话题1 学校生活 话题4 运动与健康 话题2 亲子关系 话题5 环境变化 话题3 友谊 话题6 科技前沿 1 / 1 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 话题1 学校生活 Passage 1 Like many new graduates, I left university full of hope for the future but with no real idea of what I wanted to do. My degree, with honors, in English literature had not really prepared me for anything practical. I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world somehow, but I had no idea how to do that. That’s when I learned about the Lighthouse Project. I started my journey as a Lighthouse Project volunteer by reading as much as I could about the experiences of previous volunteers. I knew it would be a lot of hard work, and that I would be away from my family and friends for a very long time. In short, I did not take my decision to apply for the Lighthouse Project lightly. Neither did my family. Eventually, however, I won the support of my family, and I sent in all the paperwork needed for application. After countless interviews and presentations, I managed to stand out among the candidates and survive the test alone. Several months later, I finally received a call asking me to report for duty. I would be going to a small village near Abuja, Nigeria. Where? What? Nigeria? I had no idea. But I was about to find out. After completing my training, I was sent to the village that was small and desperately in need of proper accommodation. Though the local villagers were poor, they offered their homes, food, and hearts as if I were their own family. I was asked to lead a small team of local people in building a new schoolhouse. For the next year or so, I taught in that same schoolhouse. But I sometimes think I learned more from my students than they did from me. Sometime during that period, I realized that all those things that had seemed so strange or unusual to me no longer did, though I did not get anywhere with the local language, and returned to the United States a different man. The Lighthouse Project had changed my life forever. 1．What do we know about the author? A．He felt honored to study English literature. B．His dream at university was to become a volunteer. C．He took pride in having contributed to the world. D．His university education focused on theoretical knowledge. 2．How was the writer’s application process? A．Awkward. B．Complex. C．Entertaining. D．Effortless. 3．What did the writer do in the village? A．Working as a teacher. B．Helping villagers build hospitals. C．Raising money for his students. D．Inviting locals to enter his Project. 4．Which can be the best title of the text? A．Lighthouse Project—The Promise of African Education B．The Memorable and Rewarding life in Abuja C．A Life-changing Voluntary Experience D．Lighthouse Project—A Volunteer Organization for New Graduates 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．A 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章叙述了作者申请叫做灯塔计划的志愿者工作的过程和被选作志愿者后去阿布加附近的一个小村庄工作的经历。作者大学毕业后，报名参加了灯塔项目活动，经过激烈的竞争，他被选中了。然后，他被送到尼日利亚的一个村庄。他一到达那儿就开始带领当地人建校舍，然后第二年在那所学校教书。他在尼日利亚学到很多东西，所以他说灯塔项目永远改变了他的人生。 1．细节理解题。根据文章第一段“My degree, with honors, in English literature had not really prepared me for anything practical. (我的英国文学荣誉学位并没有真正为我做任何实际工作做好准备。)”可知，作者的大学教育注重的是理论知识。故选D。 2．推理判断题。根据文章第三段“Eventually, however, I won the support of my family, and I sent in all the paperwork needed for application. After countless interviews and presentations, I managed to stand out among the candidates and survive the test alone. (然而，最终，我赢得了家人的支持，我递交了申请所需的所有文件。经过无数的面试和陈述，我成功地从众多候选人中脱颖而出，独自通过了考试。)”可推知，作者申请的过程是复杂的。故选B。 3．细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二段“For the next year or so, I taught in that same schoolhouse. But I sometimes think I learned more from my students than they did from me. (在接下来的一年左右的时间里，我在同一所学校教书。但有时我觉得我从学生身上学到的比他们从我身上学到的还要多。)”可知，作者在山村里当教师。故选A。 4．主旨大意题。根据全文内容，尤其是第二段中“I started my journey as a Lighthouse Project volunteer by reading as much as I could about the experiences of previous volunteers. (作为灯塔计划的志愿者，我通过尽可能多地阅读以前志愿者的经历开始了我的旅程。)”和最后一段中“The Lighthouse Project had changed my life forever. (灯塔计划永远地改变了我的生活。)”可知，本文讲述的是作者参加的灯塔项目永远改变了他的人生。因此，C项“改变人生的志愿经历”契合文章大意，最适合作为标题。故选C。 Passage 2 Wu Xiong, a 40-year-old headmaster, has spent 20 years turning a once-deserted rural school in the mountains into a center for sports and education. In 2004, Wu became headmaster of Tangfang Primary School in Baling Town, Guizhou Province. At that time, the school was merely an old house, with 3 teachers and 75 students. Worse still, many children showed little interest in attending school. To address this issue, Wu had an idea: sports. In 2006, the school held its first sports meeting. “We carried a cement slab (水泥板) from 1.5 kilometers away and used wooden boards as a net for a table tennis competition,” Wu recalled. With more money put into education, Tangfang Primary School got better facilities, but Wu still felt it necessary for students to participate in sporting activities. Now, basketball hoops (篮圈) are designed in three different sizes to suit students of different age groups, while sports equipment storage facilities are never locked up. Wu also makes it a rule that PE cannot yield to other subjects. Now, students have at least 2.5 hours set aside every day for physical activities. Among the 469 students of the school, only six wear glasses. Meanwhile, by participating in various sports competitions, the students learn how to deal with wins and losses properly. According to a recent report, the school's average scores have risen from below 30 in 2004 to over 80 in 2023. Sports have offered the students another way out of the mountains. More than 100 graduates of the school have entered middle schools as sports-focused students. Wu hopes that the happy school memories will help graduates stay connected to their hometown and get ready for their future. 1．What inspired Wu to think of sports as a solution? A．Rich sports resources. B．Requirements from teachers. C．Students' lack of interest in study. D．Children's stress from examinations. 2．What does the underlined phrase "yield to" in Paragraph 3 mean? A．Compare with. B．Give in to. C．Contribute to. D．Take the place of. 3．Why does the author list the numbers in Paragraph 4? A．To show progress in grades. B．To highlight influences of sports. C．To stress the importance of study. D．To introduce types of sports activities. 4．Which can be a suitable title for the passage? A．Headmaster Transformed School With Sports B．A Unique Physical Education Class C．Students Made Breakthroughs in Competition D．The Life Story of a Headmaster 【答案】1．C 2．B 3．B 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章围绕吴雄校长通过体育改变乡村学校的故事展开，重点描述了他如何利用体育提升学生的兴趣、健康和学业成绩。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段的句子“Worse still, many children showed little interest in attending school. To address this issue, Wu had an idea: sports.(更糟糕的是，许多孩子对上学没什么兴趣。为了解决这个问题，吴有了一个想法：体育)”可知，吴校长想到用体育来解决学生对学习缺乏兴趣的问题。故选C项。 2．词句猜测题。根据上文的句子“With more money put into education, Tangfang Primary School got better facilities, but Wu still felt it necessary for students to participate in sporting activities.(随着更多的资金投入到教育中，堂坊小学得到了更好的设施，但吴仍然认为学生参加体育活动是必要的)”和空格前的“Wu also makes it a rule that PE cannot(吴还规定体育课不能)”可知，因为吴校长认为学生参加体育活动是必要的，所以他肯定是规定体育课不能给其它科目让步，所以划线短语yield to的意义为“屈服；让步”，与give in to意义一致。故选B项。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段的内容“Now, students have at least 2.5 hours set aside every day for physical activities. Among the 469 students of the school, only six wear glasses. Meanwhile, by participating in various sports competitions, the students learn how to deal with wins and losses properly. According to a recent report, the school's average scores have risen from below 30 in 2004 to over 80 in 2023. Sports have offered the students another way out of the mountains. More than 100 graduates of the school have entered middle schools as sports-focused students.(现在，学生们每天至少有2.5小时的时间用于体育活动。在学校的469名学生中，只有6人戴眼镜。同时，通过参加各种体育比赛，学生们学会了如何正确处理输赢。根据最近的一份报告，该校的平均分数从2004年的不到30分上升到2023年的80多分。体育运动为学生们走出大山提供了另一条出路。该校100多名毕业生以体育学生的身份进入了中学)”可推知，这些数据列举了学生的近视率低、学业成绩提升和体育特长生的升学情况，旨在强调体育对学生发展的积极影响。故选B项。 4．主旨大意题。根据全文内容，特别是第一段“Wu Xiong, a 40-year-old headmaster, has spent 20 years turning a once-deserted rural school in the mountains into a center for sports and education.(40岁的校长吴雄花了20年时间，把一所曾经荒废的山区农村学校变成了一个体育和教育中心)”可知，全文围绕吴校长通过体育改变乡村学校的故事展开，重点描述了他如何利用体育提升学生的兴趣、健康和学业成绩。由此可知，A项“Headmaster Transformed School With Sports(校长用体育改变了学校)”作为本文的题目，与文章主题相符合。故选A项。 Passage 3 Born and raised in the US, Michael used to be a smart and cheerful child who brightened every room he entered. However, his life took an unexpected turn when a severe illness forced him to miss numerous school days, leaving him struggling to keep up with his studies. Later, when he downgraded to a new class, he encountered bullies who made his school days a nightmare (噩梦). That summer, right after his graduating from his primary school, he, together with his parents, visited his grandma in Chongqing, China. Michael immediately fell in love with the city. Well aware of Michael’s situation in the US, his mother decided that they would make Chongqing their new home, hoping that the new environment can provide her son with a fresh start. For Michael, the transition to a local middle school came with its own set of challenges. He struggled with the unfamiliar dialect, the different teaching methods, and school schedules With determination, Michael put himself in his studies, diligently completing his assignments, constantly seeking guidance from his teachers and peers, and he goes so far as to set his alarm for 5 a. m. each morning, all in the name of squeezing in some extra time to memorize Literary Chinese passages (文言文篇目). His hard work paid off. Michael gradually achieved remarkable academic progress, ultimately securing a place in a great local high school. During his senior year, Michael’s substitute English teacher, Linda CHEN, was deeply impressed by his language abilities and shared a video of him confidently speaking English outside of his classroom. The video quickly went viral, and Michael instantly became a sensation (轰动的人物) on campus due to his extraordinary linguistic skills and charming personality. Despite the newfound attention, Michael remained grounded and stayed committed to his studies, prioritizing his academic pursuits above all else. Michael’s diligence bore fruit when he was accepted into the Artificial Intelligence Institute of Wuhan University. His journey showcased the power of determination and resilience (适应能力), proving that even in the face of adversity (困境), one can achieve remarkable success. 1．Why did Michael’s mother decide to make Chongqing their new home? A．To escape from the atmosphere of insecurity B．To get better medical care. C．To seek help from relatives and friends D．To pursue his dream of Chinese learning 2．What helped Michael improve his academic performance in the new school? A．Constant tolerance from teachers B．Michael’s enrolling in additional afterschool programs C．Michael’s participating in extracurricular activities D．Michael’s self-discipline and strong willpower 3．How did Michael become popular on campus? A．By attending a talent show B．Through the recommendation of his teachers C．By having his talent acknowledged. D．By taking advantage of his good appearance 4．What lesson can we learn from Michael’s experience? A．The importance of perseverance in the face of challenges B．The benefits of moving to a new city for educational opportunities C．The significance of learning a foreign language. D．The key impact of a supportive school environment on students’ success 【答案】1．A 2．D 3．C 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了出生在美国的Michael的经历。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“Later, when he downgraded to a new class, he encountered bullies who made his school days a nightmare (噩梦). (后来，当他降级到一个新班级时，他遇到了恶霸，这些恶霸使他的学校生活成为一场噩梦。)”和第二段“Well aware of Michael’s situation in the US, his mother decided that they would make Chongqing their new home, hoping that the new environment can provide her son with a fresh start. (深知Michael在美国的处境，他的母亲决定将重庆作为他们的新家，希望新的环境能给儿子一个新的开始。)”可知，母亲是为了让他逃离不安全的环境（校园霸凌）。故选A。 2．推理判断题。根据第三段“With determination, Michael put himself in his studies, diligently completing his assignments, constantly seeking guidance from his teachers and peers, and he goes so far as to set his alarm for 5 a. m. each morning, all in the name of squeezing in some extra time to memorize Literary Chinese passages (文言文篇目). (有了决心，迈克尔把自己投入到学习中，勤奋地完成作业，不断地向老师和同学寻求指导，他甚至把闹钟定在每天早上5点，这一切都是为了挤出一些额外的时间来背诵文言文篇目。)”可推断，这些体现了迈克尔的自律和坚强的意志力。故选D。 3．细节理解题。根据四段“During his senior year, Michael’s substitute English teacher, Linda CHEN, was deeply impressed by his language abilities and shared a video of him confidently speaking English outside of his classroom. The video quickly went viral, and Michael instantly became a sensation (轰动的人物) on campus due to his extraordinary linguistic skills and charming personality. (在他高三的时候，Michael的英语代课老师Linda CHEN对他的语言能力印象深刻，并分享了他在课堂外自信地说英语的视频。这段视频迅速走红，迈克尔也因其非凡的语言能力和迷人的个性迅速成为校园里的红人。)”可知，他的语言天赋被认可后走红。故选C。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Michael’s diligence bore fruit when he was accepted into the Artificial Intelligence Institute of Wuhan University. His journey showcased the power of determination and resilience (适应能力), proving that even in the face of adversity (困境), one can achieve remarkable success. (Michael的勤奋得到了回报，他被武汉大学人工智能研究所录取。他的旅程展示了决心和韧性的力量，证明了即使在逆境中，一个人也可以取得非凡的成功。)”可推断，我们能从迈克尔的经历中学到面对挑战时坚持不懈的重要性。故选A。 Passage 4 Students and Technology in the Classroom I love my blackberry (黑莓手机) — it’s my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me. I also love my laptop computer, as it holds all of my writing and thoughts. Despite this love of technology, I know that there are times when I need to move away from these devices (设备) and truly communicate with others. On one occasion, I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas. Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom, I have a rule-no laptops, IPads, phones, etc. When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy. Most students think that my reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology. There’s a bit of truth to that. Some students think that I am anti-technology. There’s no truth in that at all. I love technology and try to keep up with it so I can relate to my students. The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversations and engage complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration (专心) and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep within themselves for inspiration and ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and make connections between the course material and the class discussion. I’ve been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the evaluations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create. Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge, they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom. I’m not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a rally good reason for the change, I’m sticking to my plan. A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up. 1．Some of the students in the history class were unhappy with ______. A．the course material B．others’ misuse of technology C．discussion topics D．the author’s class rules 2．The underlined word “engage” in para.4 probably means ______. A．explore B．accept C．change D．refuse 3．According to the author, the use of technology in the classroom may ______. A．keep students from doing independent thinking B．encourage students to have deep conversations C．help students to better understand difficult themes D．affect students’ concentration on the teacher’s ideas 4．It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author ______. A．is quite stubborn in teaching B．will give up teaching history C．will change his teaching plan soon D．values technology-free dialogues in his class 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．A 4．D 【导语】这是一篇夹叙夹议的文章。文章论述的主题是“students and technology”，文章以教师的口吻谈到不允许学生在课堂上玩ipad、手机等通讯工具是因为technology会影响深入交流和学生独立思考的能力。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段的“Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom, I have a rule-no laptops, IPads, phones, etc. When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy. (因为我想让学生们在课堂上深入地学习材料，互相交流思想，所以我有一个规定——不要使用笔记本电脑、ipad、手机等。当学生们在上课前被告知我的规定时，他们中的一些人很不高兴)”可知，在历史课上学生们不开心是因为作者的班规——不能使用电子产品。故选D。 2．词句猜测题。根据划线词上文“I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversations(我认为很少有地方可以让我们进行深入的对话)”和and可知，“engage complex ideas”和上文“have deep conversations”并列，指探索复杂的想法。由此可知，engage意为“探索”，与explore同义。故选A。 3．细节理解题。根据第四段的“Interruptions by technology often break concentration (专心) and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep within themselves for inspiration and ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and make connections between the course material and the class discussion. (技术的干扰往往会分散注意力，使想法过于依赖外部信息。我希望学生们能深入挖掘自己的灵感和想法。我希望他们以不同的方式互相思考，并在课程材料和课堂讨论之间建立联系。)”可知，作者认为在课堂上使用科技产品有碍于学生的独立思考。故选A。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段的“A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up. (几个小时的不受科技产品打扰的自由对话太棒了，不能放弃)”推知，作者非常重视课堂上没有科技产品的对话。故选D。 话题2 亲子关系 Passage 1 After four years at university, my 21-year-old son returned home and continued his online studies. During his time living independently, he developed a passion for cooking, focusing on meals rich in meat, fat, starches, garlic, and spices. While his brother enjoys these dinners, my husband and I quietly add roasted vegetables to balance our diet. Mostly, we’re grateful that someone else is cooking and that the food is delicious. At his age, I had never lived on my own. My grandmother and mother controlled the kitchen, and my one attempt at cooking a family meal ended badly, leaving my grandmother sick for days. Determined to do things differently, I encouraged my children to use the kitchen independently, hoping they would grow up enjoying cooking rather than fearing it as I had. It worked. My youngest son is now a passionate and careful cook, though the kitchen is always a mess after he’s done. To keep him company, I recently offered to be his sous-chef while he prepared another amazing meal. This also gave me a precious opportunity to spend time with him, as hanging out with parents is no longer his priority. As we cooked together, he directed me with requests like, “Can you crack a couple of eggs into a bowl?” and “Please stir the sugar and rice vinegar.” After each task, I responded with, “Yes, Chef!” Over time, I realized that every “Yes, Chef!” was my way of saying, “I love you.” When the family sat down to eat, I praised his cooking, and he quietly replied, “Thank you, sous-chef.” That simple response was all the comfort I needed. 1．How does the author feel about her son’s cooking most of the time? A．Appreciative of his effort. B．Frustrated by the mess. C．Concerned about his diet. D．Critical of his techniques. 2．What inspired the author to allow her children to cook independently? A．Her grandmother’s death. B．Her family members’ advice. C．Her children’s determination. D．Her own childhood experience. 3．Why did the author want to act as her son’s sous-chef? A．To teach him kitchen skills. B．To keep the kitchen organized. C．To discourage his cooking passion. D．To strengthen parent-child relationship. 4．What does the phrase “Yes, Chef!” symbolize for the author? A．Her love for her son. B．Her respect for her son’s cooking. C．Her expectations of her son. D．Her joy in having meals prepared. 【答案】1．A 2．D 3．D 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者鼓励孩子独立做饭，孩子喜欢做饭并且很用心，作者很欣慰，并且通过与孩子一起做饭，增进了亲子关系。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段“Mostly, we’re grateful that someone else is cooking and that the food is delicious.(大多数时候，我们都很感激有人在做饭，而且饭菜很美味。)”可推知，作者大多数时候都很感激儿子做的饭。故选A。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段“At his age, I had never lived on my own. My grandmother and mother controlled the kitchen, and my one attempt at cooking a family meal ended badly, leaving my grandmother sick for days. Determined to do things differently, I encouraged my children to use the kitchen independently, hoping they would grow up enjoying cooking rather than fearing it as I had.(在他这个年纪，我从未独自生活过。我的祖母和母亲掌管着厨房，有一次我尝试做一顿家庭餐，结果很糟糕，让我的祖母病了好几天。我决心做些不同的事情，我鼓励我的孩子们独立使用厨房，希望他们长大后能喜欢烹饪，而不是像我一样害怕烹饪。)”可知，作者自己童年的经历促使她允许孩子们独立做饭。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段“To keep him company, I recently offered to be his sous-chef while he prepared another amazing meal. This also gave me a precious opportunity to spend time with him, as hanging out with parents is no longer his priority.(为了陪伴他，最近他准备做另一顿美味的饭菜时，我主动提出做他的副厨。这也给了我一个宝贵的机会和他共度时光，因为和父母在一起不再是他优先考虑的事情。)”可知，作者想担任儿子的副厨是为了加强亲子关系。故选D。 4．细节理解题。根据第四段“Over time, I realized that every “Yes, Chef!” was my way of saying, “I love you.”(随着时间的推移，我意识到每次回答“是的，厨师！”都是我在说“我爱你”。)”可知，“是的，厨师！”对于作者来说象征着她对儿子的爱。故选A。 Passage 2 My father was always a good gardener. One of my earliest memories is standing without shoes in the freshly tilled (翻耕的) soil, my hands blackened from digging in the ground. As a child, I loved following Dad around in the garden. I remember Dad pushing the tiller ahead in perfectly straight lines. Dad loved growing all sorts of things: yellow and green onions, watermelons almost as big as me, rows of yellow corn, and our favorite-red tomatoes. As I grew into a teenager, I didn’t get so excited about gardening with Dad. Instead of the magical land of possibility, it had turned into some kind of prison. However, as Dad grew older, his love for gardening never disappeared. After all the kids were grown and had started families of their own, Dad turned to gardening like never before. Even when he had cancer, he still took care of his garden. But then, the cancer, bit by bit, invaded his body. I had to do the things he used to do. What really convinced me that Dad was dying was the state of his garden that year. The rows and rows of colorful vegetables were gone. Too tired to weed (除草) them, he simply let them be. He only planted tomatoes. A few years later, I couldn’t even bear to look at anyone’s garden without having strong memories pour over me like cold water from a bucket. Last year, I decided to plant my own garden and started out with just a few tomatoes. That morning, after breaking up an amount of soil, something caught the corner of my eye and I had to smile. It was my eight-year-old son Jerry, happily playing in the freshly tilled soil. 1．Why did the author like the garden when he was a child? A．The garden was freshly tilled by the worker. B．He loved what his mother grew in the garden. C．The garden was planted with colorful flowers. D．He enjoyed being in the garden with his father. 2．What did the author’s father do when all the kids started their own families? A．Stopping his gardening. B．Focusing on planting tomatoes. C．Turning to other hobbies. D．Spending more time on gardening. 3．What can be learned about the garden when the author’s father was dying? A．It was almost deserted. B．It brought the author a great harvest. C．It was redecorated by the author. D．It was turned over to the author’s son. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．Lessons from Gardening B．The Magic of Freshly Tilled Soil C．Gardening through Generations D．A Teenager’s Love for Gardening 【答案】1．D 2．D 3．A 4．C 【导语】本文为一篇记叙文，文章讲述了父亲是一个园艺爱好者，小时候作者喜欢跟在父亲身后玩耍，随着年龄的增大，父亲对园艺的热爱依然有增无减。父亲去世后，有一天作者决定开辟自己的花园，而自己的儿子就跟在身后，这一切似曾相识。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“One of my earliest memories is standing without shoes in the freshly tilled (翻耕的) soil, my hands blackened from digging in the ground.(我最早的记忆之一是光着脚站在新开垦的土地上，双手因挖掘而发黑)”和第二段“As a child, I loved following Dad around in the garden.(小时候，我喜欢跟着爸爸在花园里转)”可知，父亲在地里劳作的时候，作者很喜欢在地里玩耍。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“After all the kids were grown and had started families of their own, Dad turned to gardening like never before. Even when he had cancer, he still took care of his garden.(当所有的孩子都长大成人，组建了自己的家庭后，爸爸开始以前所未有的方式从事园艺工作。即使他得了癌症，他仍然照顾他的花园)”可知，当所有的孩子都组建了自己的家庭后，作者的父亲花更多的时间在园艺上。故选D。 3．细节理解题。根据第四段“The rows and rows of colorful vegetables were gone. Too tired to weed (除草) them, he simply let them be. He only planted tomatoes.(一排排五颜六色的蔬菜不见了。他太累了，不想去除草，就随它们去吧。他只种西红柿)”可知，当作者的父亲病重时，花园几乎被完全放弃了。故选A。 4．主旨大意题。根据第二段“As a child, I loved following Dad around in the garden.(小时候，我喜欢跟着爸爸在花园里转)”以及最后一段“It was my eight-year-old son Jerry, happily playing in the freshly tilled soil.(那是我八岁的儿子杰瑞，他正在新开垦的土地上快乐地玩耍)”结合文章讲述了父亲是一个园艺爱好者，小时候作者喜欢跟在父亲身后玩耍，随着年龄的增大，父亲对园艺的热爱依然有增无减。父亲去世后，有一天作者决定开辟自己的花园，而自己的儿子就跟在身后，这一切似曾相识。可知，C选项“代代相传的园艺之爱”最符合文章标题。故选C。 Passage 3 One day, my 11-year-old daughter told me that she wanted to return a pair of pants on Amazon. “You need to keep clicking the ‘something else’ button if you want to talk to a real person,” I told her. She followed my word, and after a bit of clicking, she managed to talk to a real person and get the pants returned. In the process, I had the chance to think about what this everyday interaction was teaching my daughter. I thought about what it meant to constantly ask for “something else”. It’s not only about having a real person to talk with. It’s equally about the quality of our communication. It’s about thinking something, then saying it, and then having another person think and say something back to you. It seems simple and yet it may become the exception, not the rule. In many cases, it already has. With the “quick responses” at the bottom of Gmail, potential responses often appear right in front of us. “Yes, sure.” “Of course!” or “I got it.” The responses, I’ve noticed, are mostly okay. Sometimes, they’re exactly what I want to say. Occasionally, they’re wildly wrong. At first, I told myself I wouldn’t use those pre-made responses. Soon enough, though, I got in a rush and found they were good. What would happen if our language got automated in general in this way? What if, instead of generating responses, we simply pointed and clicked? Choosing a response is a kind of thinking, but it’s far less accurate than the kind needed to generate content. It has to do more with recognizing a “good enough” response. Instead of starting with a blank board, we critique (评判) things. That’s not useless, but it doesn’t replace thinking in a generative way. If kids only critique something, they won’t have original thoughts. They may become great editors, but they’ll likely struggle to create ideas in fresh ways. There’s no simple solution and certainly no way to turn back the clock on automated talk. Yet, as we move forward, we need to consider carefully how simple changes in communication can have serious effects. If we want to help our kids, the “something else” we searched for — authentic human conversation — should not be the exception, but the rule. 1．What contributes to high-quality communication according to paragraph 2? A．The clear goals. B．The exact expressions. C．The process of thinking. D．The immediate response. 2．How does the author feel about using the pre-made responses? A．Excited and eager to try them out. B．Annoyed and not interested in them. C．Disappointed by their inaccurate suggestions. D．Unwilling but finally aware of their convenience. 3．What would happen to kids with the automation of language? A．Their creativity will suffer. B．Their critical thinking ability will increase. C．Their editing skills will hardly improve. D．Their expressions will be more accurate and efficient. 4．What can be the best title for the text? A．My Reflections on Automated Talk B．My Unforgettable Online Return Experience C．The Art of Guiding Children’s Creativity D．The Benefits of Using Automation in Communication 【答案】1．C 2．D 3．A 4．A 【导语】这是一篇夹叙夹议文。文章通过作者女儿对于自动对话的自身经历，表达了对于自动对话的一些看法和观点。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“I thought about what it meant to constantly ask for “something else”. It’s not only about having a real person to talk with. It’s equally about the quality of our communication. It’s about thinking something, then saying it, and then having another person think and say something back to you.(我思考了不断要求“别的东西”意味着什么。这不仅仅是有一个真正的人可以交谈。这同样关系到我们沟通的质量。它是关于思考一些事情，然后说出来，然后让另一个人思考并回答你一些事情)”可知，思考的过程有助于高质量的沟通。故选C。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“At first, I told myself I wouldn’t use those pre-made responses. Soon enough, though, I got in a rush and found they were good.(一开始，我告诉自己不要用那些预先准备好的回答。但很快，我急切发现它们很不错)”可知，作者不愿意使用预先准备好的回答，但最终意识到它们的方便。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“What would happen if our language got automated in general in this way? What if, instead of generating responses, we simply pointed and clicked? Choosing a response is a kind of thinking, but it’s far less accurate than the kind needed to generate content. It has to do more with recognizing a “good enough” response. Instead of starting with a blank board, we critique (评判) things. That’s not useless, but it doesn’t replace thinking in a generative way. If kids only critique something, they won’t have original thoughts. They may become great editors, but they’ll likely struggle to create ideas in fresh ways.(如果我们的语言在整体上被自动化了会发生什么？如果我们不是生成回应，而是指向和点击会怎样？选择回应是一种思考方式，但它的准确性远不如生成内容所需的思考方式。它更多地与识别“足够好”的回应有关。而不是从空白的画布开始，我们是在评价事物。这并非毫无用处，但它无法替代以创造性方式进行思考。如果孩子们只进行评价，他们就不会有原创的想法。他们可能会成为出色的编辑，但很可能无法以全新的方式创造想法)”可知，语言自动化的孩子创造力会受到影响。故选A。 4．主旨大意题。根据最后一段“There’s no simple solution and certainly no way to turn back the clock on automated talk. Yet, as we move forward, we need to consider carefully how simple changes in communication can have serious effects. If we want to help our kids, the “something else” we searched for — authentic human conversation — should not be the exception, but the rule.(没有简单的解决方案，当然也没有办法让自动对话时光倒流。然而，在我们前进的过程中，我们需要仔细考虑沟通方面的简单改变会产生怎样严重的影响。如果我们想帮助我们的孩子，我们寻找的“其他东西”——真实的人类对话——不应该是例外，而应该是规则)”结合文章通过作者女儿对于自动对话的自身经历，表达了对于自动对话的一些看法和观点。可知，A选项“我对自动对话的看法”最符合文章标题。故选A。 Passage 4 1One afternoon a few months before Tom and I were to be married, Max wandered into the dining room of the house we all shared. I was sorting through a box of old photographs. 2“Who’s that?” he asked. 3“That was my grandfather, the one who died a few months ago.” 4“Hmm. Too bad he had to die.” 5Just as I was about to put the last of the pictures in the box, Max pressed his finger to a face. “And who will this be to me?” 6Beneath his finger I could see the edges of my own face. I was suddenly flooded with a joy which I had no name. This son of the man I loved was becoming my son. We’d have family Christmas cards and school art stuck to the fridge. All these things I’d never allowed myself to want. Now I was becoming a mother. 7I should have known how to say just the right, wise, magical thing. But I didn’t. “I’ll be your second mom,” I said. 8“Oh.” 9“I’m sorry that your first mom died. I liked her.” 10“What should I call you?” he asked. 11My heart pounded, and my stomach turned over. Mama, I wanted to cry. I’ll be your mama and you’ll be my son. I resisted. “You can call me Mom, or Mama. You can also call me Betsy, if you’d rather. Whatever feels okay for you.” 12He stood there a minute. “What’s for dinner?” he asked. 13“Burgers.” 14“Swect,” he said as he walked out of the room. 15At our wedding a few months later, Tom and I said our vows (誓言) to one another. Then Max was invited to stand beside us and I made vows to him. I promised to step into the shoes his mother had been forced to leave behind, to help him remember her, and to be the best mother I could be. 16After the wedding, for the next few days, Max tried out a new title for me. “Can we go bowling?” he’d ask, and then follow the question by mouthing the word mom. Or, “Can we go to the store?” And the mouthed word, mom. Mom was always silent. It seemed he was trying it on, seeing how it felt in his mouth. 17Weeks later as I drove him home from school, Max suddenly said, “I notice I don’t call you Mom.” 18Oof. Who threw that rock at my chest? I breathed to calm my voice. “I noticed that.” 19“When I say Betsy, I mean Mom.” 20“Thanks,” I said. “That’s nice to know.” 21He looked out the window. “Moms die, you know. I think it’s maybe safer if you’re just Betsy.” 22I willed tears away, not wanting to overwhelm him. He had enough to carry. “Thanks, Bud. I appreciate you telling me.” 23“Hey, Betsy?” 24“Yeah,” I said, delighted with the new sound of my old name. 25“What’s for dinner?” he asked. 1．When Betty said “I’ll be your second mom,” (paragraph 7), she ______. A．thought her role was significant to Max B．wished Max could let go of the sad memories C．was looking forward to becoming Max’s mother D．suggested that she was legally responsible for Max 2．According to Max, why did he call Betsy “Betsy” instead of Mom? A．He wants to tell Betsy she is his best friend. B．He still feels shy to address Betsy as Mom. C．He doesn’t want to forget his dead mother. D．He hopes Betsy could always be with him. 3．How does Betsy most probably feel when Max mentions dinner at the end of the passage? A．Confused about Max’s favourite food. B．Happy to lead a regular family life. C．Relieved to have a simple conversation. D．Annoyed with Max’s constant questioning. 4．Why does the author develop the passage with short dialogues? A．To reveal the tension between Max and Betsy. B．To show that Max is avoiding deep conversations. C．To help express the two speakers’ emotions directly. D．To make the passage shorter and easier to understand. 【答案】1．C 2．D 3．B 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了Betty在与Tom结婚前，对融入Tom的儿子Max的生活充满期待，想成为他的“第二位母亲”。婚后Max尝试称呼Betty为“Mom”，但最终还是称她“Betsy”，因为他希望Betty能一直陪伴自己。 1．推理判断题。根据第六段中“I was suddenly flooded with a joy which I had no name. This son of the man I loved was becoming my son. We’d have family Christmas cards and school art stuck to the fridge. All these things I’d never allowed myself to want. Now I was becoming a mother. (我突然感到一种无法名状的喜悦。我爱的人的儿子正在成为我的儿子。我们会把家庭圣诞卡和学校的艺术品贴在冰箱上。所有这些我从未允许自己想要的东西。现在我要做母亲了)”可知，Betty意识到自己正在成为一个母亲，她非常喜悦，对未来美好的家庭生活充满向往。由此可知，在说这句话时，她期待着成为Max的母亲。故选C项。 2．推理判断题。根据第二十一段“He looked out the window. “Moms die, you know. I think it’s maybe safer if you’re just Betsy.” (他向窗外望去。“妈妈会死的，你知道的。我觉得你还是叫Betsy比较安全。”)”可知，Max经历了母亲的离世，对于称呼Betsy为“Mom (妈妈)”存在一定的心理障碍，很害怕再次经历失去母亲的痛苦。因此，他用“Betsy”这个称呼，是希望Betsy能够一直陪伴着他，而不是像母亲这个身份一样可能会突然消失。故选D项。 3．推理判断题。根据最后三段““Hey, Betsy?” (“嘿，Betsy？”)”、““Yeah,” I said, delighted with the new sound of my old name. (“嗯，”我说，为自己旧名字的新发音感到高兴)”和““What’s for dinner?” he asked. (“晚饭吃什么？”他问)”可知，Max正在和Betsy以新的方式相处，把她当作自己的亲人，询问晚餐的问题虽然简单，但这是日常家庭生活的常态。这表明Betty在过正常的家庭生活，成为Max生活中的一部分，她很可能感到幸福。故选B项。 4．推理判断题。通读全文可知，文章通过简短的对话形式，直接展现了Betty和Max之间的情感交流。这种对话形式让读者能够直观地感受到两人的情感变化，尤其是Betty的内心波动和Max的微妙反应。故选C项。 话题3 友谊 Passage 1 When Ghanaian photojournalist Paul Ninson initially pursued a career in photography, he found the challenge discouraging. Photography isn’t exactly valued as a career in Ghana, Ninson says, “If you tell your parents you’re going to be a photographer, it was like, ‘Yuck, what? Go be a lawyer.’” But Ninson felt photography was his calling. Deeply influenced by the family history of storytelling passed down through his grandparents and later attracted by a friend’s images, he developed a love for photography. He sold his mobile phone, bought a camera and began studying photography. Though Ninson began his journey with commercial photography, he soon shifted his focus to stories closer to his heart-those of African history and culture that he would capture as a photojournalist. Ninson still sought formal education in photojournalism. Unable to find a suitable program in Africa, he left Ghana in 2019 to study in New York City. There, he read the center’s hundreds of photobooks. In Ghana, he only had access to five or six of such books. As he ventured deeper into the city, he discovered more visual histories of Africa than he had experienced at home, such as documentation of Ghana’s first president at the New York Public Library. The libraries Ninson visited were unwilling to give him their archives(档案)to return to Africa, which led to his idea of creating a leading photobook library in Africa that held such stories. This idea has been realized with the creation of Dikan Center in Accra, Ghana’s capital. In Ghanaian artist Daniella Afful’s eyes, Dikan Center is the beginning of for the growth of Ghana’s creative community, “Dikan Center has magnified(放大)art and photography. Dikan Center has kind of given us the hope that we may soon have a music library and we could have a film library in Ghana—anything just to preserve our history and make history.” 1．How did Ninson’s grandparents affect his career choice? A．They bought a camera for Ninson. B．They asked him to consult his friend. C．They carried on the storytelling tradition. D．They showed many photos of his family. 2．Why did Ninson go to America? A．He desired for chances to better himself. B．He hunted for more approaches to culture. C．He planned to sell hundreds of photobooks. D．He wanted to return to commercial photography. 3．Which of the following can best describe Ninson? A．Innovative and hard-working. B．Generous and caring. C．Optimistic and humorous. D．Brave and outgoing. 4．What is the author’s purpose in writing the last paragraph? A．To call on people to build more libraries in Ghana. B．To promote the development of art in Ghana. C．To highlight the significance of Dikan Center. D．To discuss the challenges of preserving African history. 【答案】1．C 2．A 3．A 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了加纳摄影记者Paul Ninson克服社会偏见，坚持摄影梦想，并通过创立Dikan Center保存和传播非洲历史文化，激励了加纳创意社区的发展。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Deeply influenced by the family history of storytelling passed down through his grandparents and later attracted by a friend’s images, he developed a love for photography.(深受祖父母传承下来的家族叙事传统影响，后来又被朋友的摄影作品所吸引，他逐渐爱上了摄影)”可知，Ninson的祖父母通过传承讲故事的传统，影响了他选择摄影作为职业。故选C项。 2．细节理解题。根据第四段中“Ninson still sought formal education in photojournalism. Unable to find a suitable program in Africa, he left Ghana in 2019 to study in New York City.(Ninson仍在寻求新闻摄影方面的正规教育。由于在非洲找不到合适的课程项目，他于2019年离开加纳前往纽约求学)”可知，Ninson去美国是为了接受更好的教育，提升自己的摄影技能。故选A项。 3．推理判断题。根据第五段中“The libraries Ninson visited were unwilling to give him their archives (档案) to return to Africa, which led to his idea of creating a leading photobook library in Africa that held such stories. This idea has been realized with the creation of Dikan Center in Accra, Ghana’s capital.(Ninson走访的图书馆都不愿将馆藏档案交给他带回非洲，这促使他萌生了一个想法：在非洲建立一个能够保存这些影像故事的顶级摄影图书馆。这个构想最终在加纳首都阿克拉得以实现——Dikan Center由此诞生)”可知，Ninson创立了Dikan Center，旨在保存非洲的历史和文化，这是一种创新举措；根据第二段中“He sold his mobile phone, bought a camera and began studying photography.(他卖掉了自己的手机，买了一台相机，开始学习摄影)”和第四段中“Unable to find a suitable program in Africa, he left Ghana in 2019 to study in New York City. There, he read the center’s hundreds of photobooks.(由于在非洲找不到合适的课程项目，他于2019年离开加纳前往纽约求学。在那里，他研读了该中心收藏的数百本摄影集)”可知，他卖掉手机购买相机，远赴纽约学习，阅读大量摄影书籍，都体现了他的勤奋。故选A项。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“In Ghanaian artist Daniella Afful’s eyes, Dikan Center is the beginning of for the growth of Ghana’s creative community, “Dikan Center has magnified (放大) art and photography. Dikan Center has kind of given us the hope that we may soon have a music library and we could have a film library in Ghana — anything just to preserve our history and make history.”(在加纳艺术家Daniella Afful眼中，Dikan Center是加纳创意社群发展的火种。“Dikan Center放大了艺术与摄影的价值。它让我们看到了希望——或许很快我们就能在加纳建立音乐图书馆、电影图书馆，任何能保存历史、创造历史的载体。”)”可知，最后一段通过加纳艺术家Daniella Afful的视角，强调Dikan Center对加纳创意社区的激励作用，并提到它给人们带来希望。因此，作者是在强调Dikan Center的重要性和影响力。故选C项。 Passage 2 Kimberly Camp’s lively gallery in New Jersey is a treasure house of creativity, filled with a rich collection of artworks from around the world. Among the eye-catching displays are Camp’s own handmade dolls which bring every corner of the gallery to life with stories waiting to be discovered. Camp’s artistic journey kicked off when her mother once allowed her to pick out whatever crafts she wanted to try in the art store Zabar. She later pursued her passion by studying Studio Arts and Art History at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a Master’s degree in Arts Administration. Though her later path wasn’t always smooth, Camp’s passion for art never faded. Her determination and talent paved the way for her remarkable career. As a doll maker, Kimberly Camp not only uses a diverse range of materials collected from across the globe to add the dolls’ unique charm but establishes a strong connection to African cultural heritage in her dolls. Her first dolls “Brown Babies” featured 32 traditional African dress designs, capturing people’s hearts with their cultural richness. Her breakthrough moment came in 1982 when her 55 Kwanzaa (宽扎节) dolls were sold out in just a few hours, pushing her into the spotlight. Soon after, she introduced “Kimkins”, a line of dolls dressed in traditional African fabrics, with distinctive hand-painted faces. At their pinnacle in 1985~1986, Camp produced 2,000 “Kimkins” annually. In fact, Camp’s dolls are more than toys but recognized as “soft sculptures” mirroring her personality and humor. Over years, her works have been shown in over 100 exhibitions across the U. S. and around the world. In 2020, Camp received the Award of Excellence: Craft Makes Us Human for her dolls. Today, Camp’s hands are never still. She continues to explore new artistic fields, fully absorbed in every moment of her art-filled life. 1．What inspired Kimberly Camp’s early interest in art? A．Her work in a gallery. B．Her visit to an art store. C．Her family background. D．Her university education. 2．What do we know about Kimberly Camp’s dolls? A．They reflect a new art form. B．They inspire more American artists. C．They are specially sold during Kwanzaa. D．They showcase traditional African elements. 3．What does the underlined word “pinnacle” in paragraph 3 probably mean? A．Crisis. B．Exploration. C．Summit. D．Adventure. 4．Which of the following could be the best title for this text? A．Telling the History of Africa Through Dolls B．Weaving African Heritage into Soft Sculptures C．Kimberly Camp: Master of Arts Administration D．Kwanzaa Dolls: Bridging Generations with Tradition 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．C 4．B 【导语】本文是记叙文。主要讲述了Kimberly Camp的艺术生涯和成就。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“Camp’s artistic journey kicked off when her mother once allowed her to pick out whatever crafts she wanted to try in the art store Zabar.(Camp的艺术之旅始于她的母亲曾经允许她在Zabar艺术商店挑选任何她想尝试的工艺品)”可知，参观了一家艺术品商店激发了Kimberly Camp早期对艺术的兴趣。故选A项。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“As a doll maker, Kimberly Camp not only uses a diverse range of materials collected from across the globe to add the dolls’ unique charm but establishes a strong connection to African cultural heritage in her dolls. Her first dolls “Brown Babies” featured 32 traditional African dress designs, capturing people’s hearts with their cultural richness.(作为一名娃娃制造商，金伯利·坎普不仅使用从世界各地收集的各种材料来增加娃娃的独特魅力，而且在她的娃娃中建立了与非洲文化遗产的强烈联系。她的第一个娃娃“棕色婴儿”采用了32种传统的非洲服装设计，以其丰富的文化俘获了人们的心)”可知，Camp的娃娃展示了传统的非洲元素。故选D项。 3．词句猜测题。根据后文“Camp produced 2,000 “Kimkins” annually.(坎普每年生产2000个“Kimkins”)”可推知，每年生产2000个“Kimkins”，结合后面的年份，应是Camp的巅峰时期，所以pinnacle应是“鼎盛时期”之意，和C项意思相近。故选C项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，特别是第三段“As a doll maker, Kimberly Camp not only uses a diverse range of materials collected from across the globe to add the dolls’ unique charm but establishes a strong connection to African cultural heritage in her dolls. ... In fact, Camp’s dolls are more than toys but recognized as “soft sculptures” mirroring her personality and humor. Over years, her works have been shown in over 100 exhibitions across the U. S. and around the world. In 2020, Camp received the Award of Excellence: Craft Makes Us Human for her dolls.(作为一名娃娃制造商，金伯利·坎普不仅使用从世界各地收集的各种材料来增加娃娃的独特魅力，而且在她的娃娃中建立了与非洲文化遗产的强烈联系。……事实上，坎普的娃娃不仅仅是玩具，而是被认为是反映她个性和幽默的“软雕塑”。多年来，她的作品在美国和世界各地的100多个展览中展出。2020年，坎普因她的娃娃获得了优秀奖：工艺使我们成为人类)”可知，本文主要讲述了Kimberly Camp将非洲文化遗产融入玩偶创作，其作品被称作“软雕塑”，所以B项“将非洲遗产编织成柔软的雕塑”是本文最好的标题。故选B项。 Passage 3 During 20 years of working at his family’s supermarket, José Luis-Reig, known as Pep, never gave a thought to the world of academia(学术界). It was only when visiting the classrooms of universities with his two teenage daughters that he suddenly felt himself at home among ‘the atmosphere of learning’. After school Pep had intended to study biology but was called on to help run the family business instead. When he was at school, he developed a reputation for helping others and so was invited onto the local radio, where the presenter said. “You’re like a young psychologist(心理学家).” Pep was no stranger to change. The family business had originally been a sawmill(锯木厂). But when Pep, then 27, was asked if he wanted to take over, he decided to change the mill into the town’s first supermarket. One day in the shop, the radio presenter’s comment came back to him. After running the idea past his family, he applied to a university in Palma to study psychology and, aged 46, was accepted. “I had to get used to being much older than the other students.” he says. “But I ended up helping the others because I’d had more life experience.” Pep came top of his year and impressed his tutors(导师)so much that he was offered a job researching and teaching. Now 52, and still in the job. He adds, “My only regret is not having done it earlier.” The traditional view used to be that, while making changes in your youth was acceptable, you should then settle on a career and stick to it. But today record numbers of 50-and 60-somethings are choosing to take on new challenges. Job satisfaction becomes increasingly significant when you’ve only got a few miles on the clock. 1．Why did Pep determine to return to school at the age of 46? A．He was eager to help others. B．He was tired of staying at the same job for so long. C．He decided to earn a degree and make more money. D．Accompanying his daughters to universities inspired him to learn. 2．What caused Pep to quit his dream of further studying? A．Failing to achieve excellent academic results. B．Getting bored with the atmosphere of learning. C．The desire to try his hand at the commercial market. D．The request of taking over the family business from home. 3．How does Pep feel about his present situation? A．Dissatisfied. B．Appreciative. C．Doubtful. D．Confused. 4．What does the text intend to convey? A．Great hopes make great man. B．A brave attempt is half success. C．Do what you say, say what you do! D．It’s never too late to fulfill your dream. 【答案】1．D 2．D 3．B 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。讲述了勇于做出改变的西班牙超市老板Pep，在46岁的时候决定放弃经营多年的家族超市去读大学。最终，他实现了梦想。告诉人们实现梦想永远都不晚。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“It was only when visiting the classrooms of universities with his two teenage daughters that he suddenly felt himself at home among ‘the atmosphere of learning’.”(在带着两个十几岁的女儿参观大学教室时，他才突然觉得自己在“学习的氛围中”感到无拘无束。)可知，他陪女儿参观大学时，突然很享受学校的这种学习氛围，进而产生了重回学校学习的想法。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段“After school Pep had intended to study biology but was called on to help run the family business instead.”(毕业后Pep本打算去学生物学，但却被要求去经营家族企业了。)可知，Pep没有去上大学是因为他被要求接手家族企业。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“He adds, “My only regret is not having done it earlier.””(他补充说：“我唯一后悔的是没有早点儿做这件事。”)可以推断出，Pep对现在的情况很满意、很感激的。A. Dissatisfied.不满意的；B. Appreciative.感激的；C. Doubtful.怀疑的；D. Confused.困惑的。故选B。 4．推理判断题。分析文章结构可知，文章前5段介绍了经营超市的Pep，在46岁仍选择做出改变去上大学的故事，最后一段是总结段。根据最后一段“The traditional view used to be that, while making changes in your youth was acceptable, you should then settle on a career and stick to it. But today record numbers of 50-and 60-somethings are choosing to take on new challenges.”(过去的传统观点是，年轻时做出改变是可以接受的，但接下来你应该选择一份职业并坚持下去。但如今，50多岁和60多岁的人正选择接受新的挑战。)可知，这篇文章是想要告诉我们实现梦想永远都不晚。故选D。 Passage 4 A young woman sits down at the piano. Her long flowing brown hair frames a friendly face. And then she begins to sing. Her unexpectedly mature voice attracted everyone in the room. This is Norah Jones, award-winning singer and songwriter. Norah Jones was born on March 30, 1979, in New York City. She is the daughter of the legendary Rxdyi Shankar, a very famous guitar player; but Norah was brought up entirely by her mother Sue. At 4 years old, she and her mother moved to the Dallas suburb, Texas. Her earliest musical influence came from her mother’s extensive LP collection. She began singing in church choirs at age five, took piano lessons two years later, and briefly played alto saxophone in junior high. In the course of serving customers and laying tables in a fast restaurant, Jones soon started a band in which she was a lead singer, of course, and played piano as well. In October 2000, the band ambitiously brought a demo to EMI Blue Note Records. At a meeting with Blue Note president Bruce in the following year, Jones played her three-song tape, hoping to earn a break. Bruce was so impressed with this young girl’s talents that he signed her on the spot. After a year of work, Norah Jones released her debut album, Come Away with Me. Norah Jones has already sold 2.6 million copies of the album, which is 10 times more than any album in Blue Note history. Despite the lack of advertisement, her album was inching its way up the music charts while the debut single Don’t Know Why was climbing up the Adult Top 40 Chart. The singer already enjoyed a success at the Grammy Awards in 2003, where she picked up five trophies in the major categories(Album of the Year, Record of the Year Trophy for Don’t Know Why, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Don’t Know Why, and Best Pop Vocal Album). It’s clear that this was only the beginning for Miss Jones. 1．What motivated Jones’ interest in music when young? A．Her childhood experience. B．Her mother’s preference in music. C．Her participation in church choirs. D．Her mother’s extensive LP collection. 2．What did Jones do before being signed by EMI Blue Note Records? A．Work as a waitress. B．Study in a high school. C．Play the piano for customers. D．Compose songs for a band. 3．When did Jones release her debut album? A．In 2000. B．In 2001. C．In 2002. D．In 2003. 4．What can we know about her debut single Don’t Know Why? A．It was composed by Jones. B．It sold well through advertisement. C．It hit the top in the Adult Top 40 Chart. D．It won several awards in the Grammy Awards in 2003. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．C 4．D 【导语】这是一篇记叙文。本文介绍了诺拉•琼斯是如何从服务员到歌坛巨星的成名经历。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Her earliest musical influence came from her mother’s extensive LP collection.(她最早的音乐影响来自她母亲大量的LP收藏)”可知，Jones在音乐上受到的早期影响来自她母亲收藏的大量唱片。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中“In the course of serving customers and laying tables in a fast restaurant, Jones soon started a band in which she was a lead singer, of course, and played piano as well.(在一家快餐店为顾客服务和摆桌子的过程中，Jones很快组建了一个乐队，她是主唱，当然也弹钢琴)”可知，Jones在与百代蓝音符唱片公司签约之前是一名服务员。故选A。 3．细节理解题。根据第三段中“In October 2000, the band ambitiously brought a demo to EMI Blue Note Records. (2000年10月，这支乐队雄心勃勃地给Blue Note唱片公司带了一张样带)”以及第四段中“At a meeting with Blue Note president Bruce in the following year, Jones played her three-song tape, hoping to earn a break. Bruce was so impressed with this young girl’s talents that he signed her on the spot. After a year of work, Norah Jones released her debut album, Come Away with Me.(第二年，在与Blue Note公司总裁布鲁斯的一次会面中，Jones播放了她的三首歌磁带，希望能获得突破。布鲁斯被这个年轻女孩的才华所打动，当场就签下了她。经过一年的努力，Norah Jones发行了她的首张专辑《与我同行》)”可知，Jones于2002年发行她的首张专辑。故选C。 4．细节理解题。根据第五段中“The singer already enjoyed a success at the Grammy Awards in 2003, where she picked up five trophies in the major categories(Album of the Year, Record of the Year Trophy for Don’t Know Why, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Don’t Know Why, and Best Pop Vocal Album). (这位歌手已经在2003年的格莱美奖上取得了成功，她在主要奖项中获得了五座奖杯（年度专辑、《Don ’t know Why》的年度唱片奖杯、最佳新人、《Don ’t know Why》的最佳流行女声表演和最佳流行音乐专辑）)”可知，首张单曲《Don ’t know Why》赢得了2003年格莱美奖的几个奖项。故选D。 话题4 体育健康 Passage 1 Whether you want to assess your hormone (荷尔蒙) levels or heart health, find out why you’re tired all the time or get a general wellness profile, increasing numbers of at-home self-testing tools are promising to help. Often, these are marketed as a flexible way of taking control of your personal health. Self-diagnosis tests are flooding the market. “Many consumers are using them because they’re accessible, because it can take weeks to get a doctor’s appointment, and they might be denied the test they want,” says Patti Shih, a sociologist. Although some self-tests might be useful, there are a range of problems associated with using them, such as lack of medical guidance. Doctors will look at a patient’s medical history and assess symptoms before deciding on the appropriate method of diagnosis. They will also follow up and interpret any results. But with self-testing, all of that may be missing. Others might give accurate results but still won’t be particularly helpful. Even some of them aren’t backed by science. For example, some companies market saliva (唾液) tests as a way to detect hormonal issues. However, scientific evidence shows that saliva tests are not reliable, as they do not account for the complex interactions between hormones in the body. Shih has been studying YouTube influencers who promote self-diagnosis. Her concerns include misleading information, the risk of over-testing, and that self-testing may lead to unnecessary use of non-evidence-based supplements and treatments that carry health risks. “Perhaps most concerning are the cancer self-tests being marketed and sold in the US. These claim to detect over 50 types of cancer before symptoms have occurred.” she added. Largely thanks to advances in diagnostic technology and digital health, in the US alone, sales of direct-to-consumer tests increased from $15 million in 2010 to $1.15 billion in 2022. Self-testing isn’t likely to go away, so experts are calling for better regulation and for patients to have clearer information about when testing is recommended and when it is not. 1．Why do people choose self-testing tools? A．They can assess hormone levels accurately. B．They can replace professional medical advice. C．They are effective in controlling disease process. D．They are superior in availability and flexibility. 2．What do the third and fourth paragraphs mainly discuss? A．The wide popularity of self-testing. B．Some failed cases about self-testing. C．The associated problems of self-testing. D．Some scientific doubts about self-testing. 3．What is Shih’s biggest concern? A．Misuse of untested supplements. B．Promotion of so-called cancer self-tests. C．Misleading information from sales markets. D．Hidden risks of too much self-testing at home. 4．What suggestion do the experts give for self-testing? A．Self-testing should be managed intensively. B．Consumers should stop self-testing immediately. C．Companies should tackle all problems in diagnostic technology. D．The government should make self-testing affordable to consumers. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．B 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了自测工具的流行原因、存在问题及专家对其监管和使用的建议。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中“Often, these are marketed as a flexible way of taking control of your personal health.(通常，这些被宣传为一种灵活的方式，让人们能够掌控自己的个人健康状况)”和第二段中“Many consumers are using them because they’re accessible, because it can take weeks to get a doctor’s appointment, and they might be denied the test they want(许多消费者正在使用这些（自我检测工具），因为它们容易获得，还因为要预约看医生可能得等上好几个星期，而且他们想要做的检查可能还会被拒绝)”可知，人们选择自我检测工具是因为它们在可获得性和灵活性方面有优势。故选D。 2．主旨大意题。根据第三段中“Although some self-tests might be useful, there are a range of problems associated with using them, such as lack of medical guidance.(尽管一些自我检测可能是有用的，但使用它们仍存在一系列问题，比如缺乏医疗指导)”和第四段中“Others might give accurate results but still won’t be particularly helpful. Even some of them aren’t backed by science.(其他一些自我检测可能会得出准确的结果，但仍然不会特别有帮助。甚至其中一些自我检测还没有科学依据)” 可知，这两段主要讨论的是自我检测相关的问题。故选C。 3．细节理解题。根据第五段中“Perhaps most concerning are the cancer self-tests being marketed and sold in the US.  These claim to detect over 50 types of cancer before symptoms have occurred.(或许最令人担忧的是在美国市场上销售的癌症自测产品。这些产品声称能够在症状出现之前检测出50多种癌症)” 可知，Shih最担心的是在美国销售的所谓癌症自我检测。故选B。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段中“Self-testing isn’t likely to go away, so experts are calling for better regulation and for patients to have clearer information about when testing is recommended and when it is not.(自我测试不太可能消失，因此专家呼吁加强监管，让患者更清楚地了解何时应该进行测试，何时不应该进行测试)”可推知，专家们建议对自我测试进行严格管理。故选A。 Passage 2 An hour’s extra sleep a night can shave 270 calories off people’s daily diets, new research suggests—the equivalent of around three chocolate digestive biscuits. Over three years, this could lead to a weight loss of 26 pounds—simply by sleeping more, the researchers said. A team from the University of Chicago wanted to look at how sleep interacts with obesity and so carried out a clinical trial with 80 adults. Writing in the journal Jama Internal Medicine, they found that young, overweight adults who habitually slept fewer than 6.5 hours a night were able to add an extra 1.2 hours of sleep per night after undergoing counselling to improve their sleeping habits. The results showed that getting more sleep reduced people’s overall intake by an average of 270 calories per day, with some people consuming 500 fewer calories. Dr Esra Tasali, from the University of Chicago’s sleep centre, said the study had not intended to look at weight loss. “But even within just two weeks, we have quantified evidence showing a decrease in caloric intake and a negative energy balance—caloric intake is less than calories burned.” she said. “If healthy sleep habits are kept over longer period. this would lead to clinically important weight loss over time. Many people are working hard to find ways to decrease their caloric intake to lose weight—well, just by sleeping more, you may be able to reduce it considerably. The study did not attempt to restrict people’s diets. Instead, they slept in their own beds, tracked their sleep with wearable devices, and otherwise followed a normal lifestyle without any instructions on diet or exercise. Dr Tasali said that limiting the use of devices such as mobile phones before bedtime helped people get more sleep. She added. “We saw that after just a single sleep counselling session. participants could change their bedtime habits enough to lead to an increase in sleep time.” 1．Why did the researchers carry out the study? A．To find how to reduce weight. B．To know the proper sleep time. C．To learn about healthy sleep habits. D．To study the link between sleep and obesity. 2．What’s Dr Tasali’s attitude to the findings of the study? A．Doubtful. B．Confident. C．Negative. D．Ambiguous. 3．What can we infer from the last paragraph? A．Participants should go on a restricted diet and do more exercise. B．Limiting the use of digital devices is the best way to get enough sleep. C．Participants tracked their sleep without disturbing their normal lifestyle. D．A single sleep counselling session is useless for participants to change. 4．What’s the best title of the text? A．A Strange Way to Lose Your Weight B．Young and Overweight Adults Need More Sleep C．Forming a Regular Sleep Habit Is Good for Your Health D．Cut 270 Calories by Sleeping for an Extra Hour Every Night 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．C 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。研究发现每天多睡一小时可以消耗更多的卡路里。文章介绍了研究开展的过程以及研究的相关发现。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“A team from the University of Chicago wanted to look at how sleep interacts with obesity and so carried out a clinical trial with 80 adults.(芝加哥大学的一个研究小组想了解睡眠与肥胖之间的相互作用，因此对80名成年人进行了一项临床试验)”可知，进行这项研究是为了研究睡眠和肥胖之间的联系。故选D。 2．推理判断题。根据第四段“But even within just two weeks, we have quantified evidence showing a decrease in caloric intake and a negative energy balance—caloric intake is less than calories burned.(但即使在短短两周内，我们已经有量化的证据表明热量摄入的减少和负能量平衡——热量摄入少于卡路里燃烧)”可知，Dr Tasali对于实验结果是非常自信的。故选B。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Instead, they slept in their own beds, tracked their sleep with wearable devices, and otherwise followed a normal lifestyle without any instructions on diet or exercise.(相反，他们睡在自己的床上，用可穿戴设备记录自己的睡眠情况，在其他情况下按照正常的生活方式生活，没有任何饮食或锻炼方面的指导)”可推知，参与者在不影响他们正常生活方式的情况下跟踪他们的睡眠。故选C。 4．主旨大意题。根据第一段“An hour’s extra sleep a night can shave 270 calories off people’s daily diets, new research suggests—the equivalent of around three chocolate digestive biscuits. Over three years, this could lead to a weight loss of 26 pounds—simply by sleeping more, the researchers said.(一项最新研究表明，每晚多睡一小时可以减少人们每日摄入的270卡路里热量——大约相当于三块巧克力消化饼干。研究人员说，三年后，只要多睡一会儿，就能减掉26磅的体重)”结合文章介绍了研究开展的过程以及研究的相关发现。故D选项“每天晚上睡一个小时减少270卡路里”最符合文章标题。故选D。 Passage 3 In my childhood, my parents would take me to watch games. I loved the excitement I would feel when we went to watch these events, especially when the scores were close until the very end of the game. My meaningful attempt at sports began with T-ball at the age of three, progressed to the basketball court at six, and finally turned into a firm devotion to the game of baseball from the age of eight onward. One of my most memorable moments was at the World Series when I was eleven and played on the Texas Rattlers. The July heat was unbearable. It was the semi-final game. Sweating like a pig, we ran into the dugout for our last at-bat (上场击球); we were down one run now. I was the second hitter and captain of the team, and I was ready for this moment. In the next few seconds, I had the chance to show my strength as a hitter and my ability to be a leader under pressure by hitting a home run! We carried the day! As the team captain, I remember the time I had to give a speech to my team because we had lost an important game. I was nervous, but I knew it was my responsibility to cheer my team up when they were cast down. This experience has shaped my mind, making me become more independent, so I’m obtaining the ability to talk like a leader in front of my team and a group. Sports get it through my head that you can’t win at everything in life all the time. On and of the field, I am more iron-willed, disciplined (遵守纪律的) and respectful, and a better leader. I have had so many awesome experiences through sports, which have taught me much and prepared me for the future. The memories of all the trips and diverse experiences I have had will be with me for a lifetime. 1．What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph? A．He often switched sports. B．He was a gifted child in sports. C．He had a busy childhood. D．He was fond of sports from childhood. 2．How did the author feel during the semi-final at the World Series? A．Stressed and tired. B．Proud and confident. C．Unbearable and down. D．Surprised and energetic. 3．What was tough for the author according to paragraph 3? A．Leading his team to face failure. B．Giving a speech before the team. C．Improving his leadership qualities. D．Overcoming his own nervousness. 4．Which can be a suitable title for the text? A．Interesting Life of Sports B．Life Lessons from Sports C．Deep Affection for Sports D．Special Moments in Sports 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．A 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者通过体育运动获得的人生感悟。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段“In my childhood, my parents would take me to watch games. I loved the excitement I would feel when we went to watch these events, especially when the scores were close until the very end of the game. My meaningful attempt at sports began with T-ball at the age of three, progressed to the basketball court at six, and finally turned into a firm devotion to the game of baseball from the age of eight onward. (在我的童年时代，我的父母会带我去看比赛。我喜欢当我们去看这些比赛时所感受到的兴奋，尤其是当比分在最后关头仍然不相上下的时候。我三岁的时候，就开始有意义地尝试体育运动，从儿童棒球开始，六岁时开始打篮球，从八岁开始，我就对棒球产生了浓厚的兴趣。)”可推知，作者自幼就喜爱体育运动。故选D。 2．推理判断题。根据第二段中“One of my most memorable moments was at the World Series when I was eleven and played on the Texas Rattlers. The July heat was unbearable. It was the semi-final game. Sweating like a pig, we ran into the dugout for our last at-bat (上场击球); we were down one run now. I was the second hitter and captain of the team, and I was ready for this moment. In the next few seconds, I had the chance to show my strength as a hitter and my ability to be a leader under pressure by hitting a home run! We carried the day! (我最难忘的时刻之一，就是十一岁时我代表德克萨斯响尾蛇队参加世界大赛的时候。七月的酷热让人难以忍受。那是一场半决赛。我们像猪一样汗流浃背，冲进球员休息区进行最后一次击球；我们现在落后一分。我是队里的第二击球手和队长，我已经为这个时刻做好了准备。在接下来的几秒钟里，我有机会通过打出全垒打来展示我作为击球手的力量和在压力下作为领袖的能力！我们赢得了那天的比赛！)”可知，在作者难忘的一场半决赛中，在球队落后一分的情况下，他打出了本垒打，展示了他作为击球员的实力及球队队长的抗压能力，让球队赢得了比赛。通过这些描述，我们可以推断出，作者应是为此感到骄傲自豪的和自信的。故选B。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段“As the team captain, I remember the time I had to give a speech to my team because we had lost an important game. I was nervous, but I knew it was my responsibility to cheer my team up when they were cast down. This experience has shaped my mind, making me become more independent, so I’m obtaining the ability to talk like a leader in front of my team and a group. Sports get it through my head that you can’t win at everything in life all the time. (作为队长，我记得有一次我不得不给我的球队演讲，因为我们输掉了一场重要的比赛。我很紧张，但我知道，当我的团队情绪低落时，我有责任让他们振作起来。这段经历塑造了我的思想，让我变得更加独立，所以我获得了在团队和团队面前像领导者一样说话的能力。体育运动让我明白，你不可能一直在生活中赢得一切。)”可知，作者认为困难的事是带领球队勇敢面对失败。故选A。 4．主旨大意题。文章第一段介绍了作者从小就喜爱体育运动；第二段讲的是作者体育运动中的高光时刻；第三段讲的是体育运动教会作者接受失败；最后一段总结了体育运动教给作者很多东西，且这些经历和记忆将陪伴作者一生。由此可知，这篇文章主要讲述了作者通过体育运动获得的人生感悟，所以B项“Life Lessons from Sports (体育带给我们的人生感悟)”是本文最好的标题。故选B。 Passage 4 Can you imagine getting a tooth pulled out or other major dental procedures without pain-killer? A scientist colleague of mine used a “focus in” technique instead of requesting pain-killer at the dentist. Each time the dentist touched the tooth, my colleague felt bubbles of joy, and this lasted until the dentist interrupted by asking, “Why are you smiling?” A fair question at this point is why anyone would want to be fully aware of intense or painful procedures. But what may sound like a punishing choice—to directly face hurt or suffering—may in some instances be beneficial. A stream of scientific articles suggests that there are benefits in turning toward discomfort or negative emotions with acceptance. In addition, all of us can gain from finding ways to cope with stress and suffering—particularly when larger circumstances are beyond our control. As a researcher who has studied meditation (冥想) for more than 20 years, I believe that the development of calmness, a central element of certain mindfulness meditation practices, can help. I’m not advocating for people to put themselves in dangerous or painful positions. But when we push ourselves into challenging or confusing situations, much like trainers who push athletes just past their comfort zone to make gains, learning often happens. Indeed, a 2022 study with more than 2,000 people demonstrated that those participants who were publicly encouraged to push themselves into awkward, uncomfortable situations—including taking classes to boost self-confidence and reading about opposing viewpoints—later reported the greatest degree of personal growth. My own research indicates that meditation provides an ideal way to practice turning toward discomfort-particularly when it trains up one’s calm mind. People who reported higher levels of calmness reported less psychological distress (困扰). Right now people are hurting for many reasons and looking for ways to cope. Without question, there are many important steps we need to take collectively to respond to these challenges. But we can each build our ability to recover on a personal level as well by cultivating greater acceptance of our experience—good or bad, painful or pleasant—in the present moment. 1．The author uses the first question in Paragraph 1 to________. A．introduce the topic. B．illustrate an argument. C．highlight an opinion. D．promote a pain-killer. 2．What is the benefit of turning towards discomfort and negative emotions? A．It helps in avoiding suffering fully. B．It increases psychological distress. C．It leads to personal growth. D．It promotes a sense of calmness. 3．What is the author’s view on putting oneself in dangerous or painful positions? A．The author encourages it as a way to improve fitness. B．The author discourages it due to its potential harm. C．The author believes it is necessary for personal growth. D．The author recommends it to those confused trainers. 4．What can be a suitable title for the text? A．Turning Towards Discomfort: My Experience of Staying Stressful and Successful B．Expanding Comfort Zones: The Difference Between Discomfort and Calmness C．Mindfulness and Meditation: The Tools for Dealing with Stress and Suffering D．Cultivating Calmness: The Benefits of Mindfulness in Enjoying Dental Operation 【答案】1．A 2．C 3．B 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍了正念冥想可以帮助我们应对压力和痛苦。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段中“Can you imagine getting a tooth pulled out or other major dental procedures without pain-killer?(你能想象在没有止痛药的情况下拔牙或进行其他主要牙科手术吗？)”和第二段中“A stream of scientific articles suggests that there are benefits in turning toward discomfort or negative emotions with acceptance. In addition, all of us can gain from finding ways to cope with stress and suffering—particularly when larger circumstances are beyond our control. As a researcher who has studied meditation (冥想) for more than 20 years, I believe that the development of calmness, a central element of certain mindfulness meditation practices, can help.(一系列科学文章表明，接受不适或负面情绪是有好处的。此外，我们所有人都可以从找到应对压力和痛苦的方法中获益——特别是当更大的情况超出我们的控制范围时。作为一名研究冥想20多年的研究人员，我相信，作为某些正念冥想练习的核心元素，冷静的发展会有所帮助)”可推知，作者在第一段提出这一问题是为了引出文章主题——正念冥想有助于应对压力和痛苦。故选A。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Indeed, a 2022 study with more than 2,000 people demonstrated that those participants who were publicly encouraged to push themselves into awkward,uncomfortable situations—including taking classes to boost self-confidence and reading about opposing viewpoints—later reported the greatest degree of personal growth.(事实上，2022年一项针对2000多人的研究表明，那些被公开鼓励让自己陷入尴尬、不舒服的境地的参与者——包括参加课程来增强自信和阅读相反的观点——后来报告称个人成长程度最高)”可知，面向不适和负面情绪的好处是它会带来个人成长。故选C。 3．细节理解题。根据第二段中“I’m not advocating for people to put themselves in dangerous or painful positions. (我并不是提倡人们将自己置于危险或痛苦的境地)”可知，作者并不提倡将自己置于危险或痛苦的境地，因为这会存在危险。故选B。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是第二段中“A stream of scientific articles suggests that there are benefits in turning toward discomfort or negative emotions with acceptance. In addition, all of us can gain from finding ways to cope with stress and suffering—particularly when larger circumstances are beyond our control. As a researcher who has studied meditation (冥想) for more than 20 years, I believe that the development of calmness, a central element of certain mindfulness meditation practices, can help.(一系列科学文章表明，接受不适或负面情绪是有好处的。此外，我们所有人都可以从找到应对压力和痛苦的方法中获益——特别是当更大的情况超出我们的控制范围时。作为一名研究冥想 20多年的研究人员，我相信，作为某些正念冥想练习的核心元素，冷静的发展会有所帮助)”可知，文章主要介绍了正念冥想可以帮助我们应对压力和痛苦，C项“正念和冥想：应对压力和痛苦的工具”适合作文章标题。故选C。 话题5 环境变化 Passage 1 In the United States, perhaps no insect has been counted as often as the butterfly. “There’s a lot of passion for them, and they’re very amazing,” says Collin Edwards, an ecologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. That enthusiasm has led volunteers to spend countless hours monitoring butterfly populations over the years. “Thanks to their efforts, we have one of the world’s best insect databases,” Edwards adds. However, this data came from various separate programs, each slightly different in approach. To get a single, country-wide look at the state of these insects, Edwards and a team of more than 30 butterfly researchers brought together and analyzed all these efforts — a total of 12. 6 million butterfly sightings. Their findings are alarming. Since 2000, butterfly numbers in the US have dropped by an average of 22%, according to a study published in Science. Declines have been recorded across the country and among a wide range of species. “A 1% — 2% decrease per year may not sound severe, but over decades, it is staggering,” says biologist David Wagner from the University of Connecticut. “The natural world is losing diversity at an unexpected rate.” Only 3% of the 554 species examined showed growth, mainly those that adapt well to human environments. More concerning is that the median species declined by over 40%, indicating a broad and serious trend. Huge change of natural land, for agriculture or other kinds of development, have decreased the natural habitats butterflies need to live in. Pesticides used in farming are directly harming many species, especially in the Midwest. And climate change is pushing creatures out of their comfort zones. Solving this crisis will take national or international action. While lots of policies are needed to address climate change and control pesticides, individuals can also help. “We can’t stop climate change alone, but we can prevent habitat loss,” says Edwards. “Planting flowers that can provide food and shelter for butterflies helps them survive despite environmental challenges.” 1．Why do volunteers track butterfly populations? A．They hope to feed amazing butterflies. B．They have a strong interest in the species. C．They want to confirm some findings about the species. D．They have seldom counted butterfly populations before. 2．What does the underlined word “staggering” in paragraph 3 mean? A．Reasonable. B．Accurate C．Interesting. D．Shocking. 3．What does paragraph 5 mainly talk about? A．The side effects of climate change. B．A latest trend in agricultural development. C．Pesticides used in modern farming practices. D．Factors driving declines in butterfly populations. 4．What does Edwards intend to say regarding saving butterflies? A．Small efforts can make a difference. B．Individuals play a minor part in it. C．National policies are top concerns. D．Planting flowers can avoid habitat loss. 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．D 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了美国蝴蝶数量因栖息地破坏、农药使用和气候变化而急剧下降，需通过政策与个人行动共同应对这一生态危机。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“That enthusiasm has led volunteers to spend countless hours monitoring butterfly populations over the years.(这种热情促使志愿者们多年来投入无数时间监测蝴蝶种群数量)”可知，志愿者跟踪蝴蝶的数量，是因为他们对这个物种有浓厚的兴趣。故选B。 2．词句猜测题。根据画线词上文“A 1% — 2% decrease per year may not sound severe, but over decades(每年1%到2%的年降幅看似不大，但几十年累积下来)”可知，此处有转折，乍看不严重的1%到2%的年降幅在多年累积后应该是令人震惊的，画线词意为“令人震惊的”，与Shocking意思接近。故选D。 3．主旨大意题。根据第五段“Huge change of natural land, for agriculture or other kinds of development, have decreased the natural habitats butterflies need to live in. Pesticides used in farming are directly harming many species, especially in the Midwest. And climate change is pushing creatures out of their comfort zones.(由于农业或其他类型的发展，自然土地的巨大变化减少了蝴蝶需要生活的自然栖息地。农业中使用的农药直接伤害了许多物种，尤其是在中西部地区。气候变化正在把生物赶出他们的舒适区)”可知，第五段列举了导致蝴蝶数量下降的三大因素：自然土地开发、农药使用和气候变化。故选D。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段““We can’t stop climate change alone, but we can prevent habitat loss,” says Edwards. “Planting flowers that can provide food and shelter for butterflies helps them survive despite environmental challenges.”(“我们不能单独阻止气候变化，但我们可以防止栖息地的丧失，”爱德华兹说。“种花可以为蝴蝶提供食物和庇护，帮助它们在环境挑战下生存。”)”可知，Edwards认为个人可以通过自身行动来帮助蝴蝶应对栖息地丧失，继续生存，他是在强调个体的小努力也能发挥作用。故选A。 Passage 2 Hadeda ibises, known as “African alarm clocks” for their loud calls, have long legs and thin beaks (鸟喙) and shiny feathers on their wings. Historically restricted to northeastern South Africa, hadedas have significantly expanded their range to many urban areas. Various ibises use remote-touch to detect movements of prey (猎物) in the soil and locate their hidden place. This ability is facilitated by a sensory organ in their beaks, called the bill-tip organ, which developed during the time of the dinosaurs. My recent research confirmed that hadedas have this“sixth sense” and found it is closely tied to soil moisture (湿度) levels. We conducted sensory tests with hadedas in bird cages. We presented them with boxes of soil containing buried worms (虫), masking any sounds with white noise and mixing dead worms into the soil to remove scent cues (气味线索). The birds consistently found live worms faster than dead ones, indicating they are able to sense movements of prey and use remote-touch to find them. Further testing revealed that hadedas found worms more quickly in wetter soils. If the soil was too dry, they lost this ability and had to rely on random searching. These findings suggest that the hadedas’ expansion in SouthAfrica is related to increased artificial watering systems. They require wet soil to use remote-touch effectively,which could explain their absence in dry regions. Droughts and heatwaves, expected to worsen with climate change, could threaten their population by making prey detection more challenging. The study highlights the broader implications for other remote-touch hunting birds, many of which are already endangered. As soil moisture levels decrease, these birds could become more at risk, stressing the importance of considering sensory requirements in conservation efforts. 1．What do we know about hadeda ibises? A．They are known for shiny feathers. B．They barely see any rise in numbers. C．They recall images of the dinosaurs. D．They have a specialized sensory organ. 2．Why were white noise and dead worms used in the experiment? A．To get a more reliable result. B．To add experimental items. C．To copy natural habitats. D．To avoid disturbing the subjects. 3．What does the research suggest about the impact of climate change on hadedas? A．Climate change will decrease their reliance on soil moisture. B．Droughts could make it more difficult for them to find prey. C．Increased rainfall will help them relocate to urbanized areas. D．Rising temperatures could increase their feeding efficiency. 4．What does the text mainly talk about? A．The specialty of hadedas’ organs. B．The masters of dry land hunting. C．Hadedas’ prey detection in wet soil. D．Hadedas ibises’ urban expansion. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．B 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了噪鹮的特征，通过实验研究其利用“远程触觉”感知猎物的能力与土壤湿度的关系，以及气候变化对其的影响。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Various ibises use remote touch to detect movements of prey (猎物) in the soil and locate their hidden place. This ability is facilitated by a sensory organ in their beaks, called the bill tip organ, which developed during the time of the dinosaurs. (各种朱鹭利用远程触觉来探测土壤中猎物的移动并定位它们的藏身之处。这种能力得益于它们喙中的一种感觉器官，叫做喙尖器官，它在恐龙时代就已经形成了)”可知，噪鹮有一个专门的感觉器官。故选D项。 2．推理判断题。根据第三段中“We presented them with boxes of soil containing buried worms (虫), masking any sounds with white noise and mixing dead worms into the soil to remove scent cues (气味线索). The birds consistently found live worms faster than dead ones, indicating they are able to sense movements of prey and use remote touch to find them. (我们给它们提供装有埋着虫子的土壤盒子，用白噪音掩盖任何声音，并将死虫子混入土壤中以消除气味线索。这些鸟总是比找到死虫子更快地找到活虫子，这表明它们能够感知猎物的移动并利用远程触觉来找到它们)”可知，使用白噪音和死虫子是为了排除声音和气味线索的干扰，从而得到更可靠的实验结果，证明噪鹮是通过远程触觉感知猎物的。故选A项。 3．细节理解题。根据第四段中“Droughts and heatwaves, expected to worsen with climate change, could threaten their population by making prey detection more challenging. (随着气候变化，预计干旱和热浪将加剧，这可能会使猎物探测变得更具挑战性，从而威胁到它们的数量)”可知，干旱会让噪鹮更难找到猎物。故选B项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，结合第二段中“My recent research confirmed that hadedas have this ‘sixth sense’ and found it is closely tied to soil moisture (湿度) levels. (我最近的研究证实，噪鹮有这种‘第六感’，并发现它与土壤湿度水平密切相关)”以及后文围绕噪鹮在不同湿度土壤中探测猎物的研究内容可知，本文主要讲的是噪鹮在湿润土壤中探测猎物的情况。故选C项。 Passage 3 Many news reports focus on climate change these days. Extreme heat, wildfires, floods, homeless polar bears... How do you feel when reading worrying news about climate change? You may believe that people are becoming insensitive to the warming planet, accepting that it is only getting worse. A research team at Pennsylvania State University, US, reported otherwise. To record how the news can impact people’s emotions, participants were first exposed to negative news stories about climate change for three days. They then continued to read negative news headlines for seven days. In the first three days, the participants experienced greater fear and less hope, which can potentially hurt an audience’s belief that they can do anything to tackle the problem. However, during the seven-day-long exposure, the fear peaked and then held steady (稳定的). “We saw the opposite pattern in our second study. The more exposure people had to these threatening news stories each day, the more likely they are to think that they can make a difference in tackling climate change,” Christofer Skurka, the paper’s lead author told the Pennsylvania State University website. According to the researchers, one possibility is that when the public hears about climate change threats, they may convince themselves that they have control over the situation. They will then believe that their actions may make a difference. Knowing that everyone is able to help is only the first step. According to a study that analyzed information from 430 different studies, what motivates people the most to change their behavior is social comparison. For example, if a person’s neighbors follow a low-carbon lifestyle, such as driving electric cars, the person may feel social pressure and become more likely to follow this behavior. This happens because people usually judge their own behavior and follow social norms (规范). Another effective motivation is providing financial rewards to consumers, helping them save money. “There are so many routes to our goals,” Matthew Goldberg, the co-author of the study, told Scientific American. As Goldberg pointed out, future research like this can help policymakers decide how best to encourage people to ward more climate-friendly habits. 1．How did the participants react to negative news in the second study? A．They found the news unbelievable. B．They lost hope in tackling climate change. C．They experienced greater fear for the future. D．They felt a strong sense of social responsibility. 2．What encourages people most toward more climate-friendly behavior? A．Effective policy. B．Healthy lifestyle. C．Social influence. D．Financial support. 3．What is Paragraph 5 mainly about? A．Responses to climate change education. B．T he effectiveness of community initiatives. C．T he impact of social norms on environment. D．Ways to encourage climate-friendly behavior. 4．What is Goldberg’s attitude towards similar future research? A．Doubtful. B．Optimistic. C．Objective. D．Indifferent. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．D 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍了公众读到气候变化威胁的负面新闻的反应，并介绍了鼓励气候友好型行为的方法。 1．细节理解题。根据第三段“We saw the opposite pattern in our second study. The more exposure people had to these threatening news stories each day, the more likely they are to think that they can make a difference in tackling climate change,(我们在第二项研究中看到了相反的模式。人们每天接触这些威胁性新闻的次数越多，他们就越有可能认为自己可以在应对气候变化方面有所作为)”可知，在第二项研究中，参与者面对负面新闻，认为自己可以在应对气候变化方面有所作为，即他们感受到强烈的社会责任感。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第四段“According to the researchers, one possibility is that when the public hears about climate change threats, they may convince themselves that they have control over the situation. They will then believe that their actions may make a difference.(根据研究人员的说法，一种可能性是，当公众听到气候变化威胁时，他们可能会说服自己，他们可以控制局势。然后，他们会相信自己的行动可能会有所不同)”以及第五段“According to a study that analyzed information from 430 different studies, what motivates people the most to change their behavior is social comparison.(根据一项分析430项不同研究信息的研究，最能激励人们改变他们行为的是社会比较)”可知，人们可能会说服自己采取环保的行为，最能激励人们改变自己行为的是社会比较，即社会影响。故选C。 3．主旨大意题。根据第五段“Knowing that everyone is able to help is only the first step. According to a study that analyzed information from 430 different studies, what motivates people the most to change their behavior is social comparison. For example, if a person’s neighbors follow a low-carbon lifestyle, such as driving electric cars, the person may feel social pressure and become more likely to follow this behavior. This happens because people usually judge their own behavior and follow social norms (规范). Another effective motivation is providing financial rewards to consumers, helping them save money. (知道每个人都有能力提供帮助只是第一步。根据一项分析430项不同研究信息的研究，最能激励人们改变行为的是社会比较。例如，如果一个人的邻居遵循低碳生活方式，例如驾驶电动汽车，该人可能会感到社会压力，并更有可能遵循这种行为。之所以会发生这种情况，是因为人们通常会评判自己的行为并遵循社会规范。另一个有效的动机是向消费者提供经济奖励，帮助他们省钱)”可知，本段主要介绍了鼓励人们采取环保行为的方法，即鼓励气候友好型行为的方法。故选D。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段““There are so many routes to our goals,” Matthew Goldberg, the co-author of the study, told Scientific American. As Goldberg pointed out, future research like this can help policymakers decide how best to encourage people to ward more climate-friendly habits.(该研究的合著者马修·戈德堡告诉《科学美国人》杂志：“实现我们的目标有很多途径。正如戈德堡指出的那样，未来的研究可以帮助政策制定者决定如何最好地鼓励人们养成更有利于气候的习惯。”)”可知，对类似的未来研究持有乐观的态度。故选B。 Passage 4 In the age of AI, worries about its impact on the environment are snowballing. For example, asking ChatGPT a question uses ten times more energy than an old-fashioned search. The development of AI has also caused a big increase in greenhouse-gas emissions. Google’s emissions went up nearly 50% from 2019 to 2023. However, these concerns might be overstated. In fact, AI may be less energy-hungry than many people assume. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that the electricity used by data centres could become three times as much within five years. But at present, the 1.5% of global electricity consumption related to data centres mainly comes from things like streaming, social media and online shopping. Moreover, some of AI’s electricity use will help with greening the economy. AI is already helping improve the efficiency of electrical grids (电网), cut fuel use in shipping and spot invisible leaks of greenhouse gas. Policymakers and industry leaders face the task of maximizing AI’s advantages while minimizing its climate effects. The best way would be for governments to set a proper price for carbon and let the market operate. But because a global carbon price remains a distant dream, focusing on other three measures are more down-to-earth. The first is more openness. Starting in August 2026, the EU will require some AI developers to report how much energy they use in detail. That approach should be copied elsewhere. A second is to rethink how data centers operate. The IEA notes that being able to shift workloads between different data centers at different times could reduce stress and help balance energy grids. Third, technology companies must keep their promises about protecting the environment instead of depending on buying renewable-energy credits. Doubling down on such approaches would help transform AI from climate suspect to climate hero. 1．What is the main concern about AI? A．Its inability to reduce emissions. B．Its impact on social development. C．Its shock on old-fashioned search. D．Its high-level energy consumption. 2．What can be inferred from the second paragraph? A．AI’s environmental-friendly potential remains tested. B．AI has a minor role in the current electricity consumption. C．AI is currently the most effective way to reduce emissions. D．The process of AI detecting gas leaking is easy to achieve. 3．Which solution is more realistic to minimize AI’s climate effects? A．Fixing a proper price for carbon. B．Allowing the market to operate. C．Reconsidering data center operations. D．Purchasing renewable-energy credits. 4．Which of the following is the best title for text? A．AI and Climate: A Battle of Balancing. B．Climate: A Victi m or a Beneficiary of AI? C．AI’s next target: Environmental Protection. D．AI: A Threat or a Contributor to the Climate? 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．C 4．D 【导语】这是一篇说明文，文章主要讲的是人工智能（AI）对环境的影响，指出人们对AI高能耗、增加温室气体排放存在担忧，但这种担忧可能被夸大，AI或许不像人们想的那么耗能，且还有助于环保。同时，本文提出政策制定者和行业领导者需平衡AI优势与气候影响，并给出具体解决措施。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“For example, asking ChatGPT a question uses ten times more energy than an old-fashioned search. The development of AI has also caused a big increase in greenhouse-gas emissions.(例如，向ChatGPT询问一个问题比传统的搜索多消耗十倍的能量。人工智能的发展也导致了温室气体排放的大幅增加。)”可知，人们主要担心AI的高能耗问题，故选D项。 2．推理判断题。根据第二段“The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that the electricity used by data centres could become three times as much within five years. But at present, the 1.5% of global electricity consumption related to data centres mainly comes from things like streaming and social media.(国际能源署（IEA）预测，数据中心的用电量将在五年内增加三倍。但目前，与数据中心相关的1.5%的全球电力消耗主要来自流媒体和社交媒体。)”可知国际能源署预测未来五年数据中心用电可能变为三倍，但目前数据中心占全球电力消耗的1.5%主要来自流媒体和社交媒体等，言外之意是目前AI在数据中心电力消耗方面作用较小，故选B项。 3．细节理解题。根据第三段“The best way would be for governments to set a proper price for carbon and let the market operate. But because a global carbon price remains a distant dream, focusing on other three measures are more down-to-earth.(最好的办法是政府为碳设定一个合适的价格，让市场运作。但是，由于全球碳价格仍然是一个遥远的梦想，因此关注其他三个措施更为实际。)”以及第四段“A second is to rethink how data centers operate.(第二是重新思考数据中心的运作方式。)”可知，设定合适的碳价是最好的方法，但这还很遥远，而重新思考数据中心的运营方式是更切实可行的措施之一，故选C项。 4．主旨大意题。文章第一段“In the age of AI, worries about its impact on the environment are snowballing.(在人工智能时代，对其对环境影响的担忧正在滚雪球。)”指出人们担忧人工智能对环境的影响，如高能耗和增加温室气体排放等，第二段“AI is already helping improve the efficiency of electrical grids(电网), cut fuel use in shipping and spot invisible leaks of greenhouse gas.(人工智能已经帮助提高了电网的效率，减少了航运中的燃料使用，并发现了看不见的温室气体泄漏。)”又提到人工智能在一些方面有助于经济绿化和环保，如改善电网效率等，文章倒数第二段集中提出了一些使人工智能减少对气候的负面影响并发挥其优势的措施，纵观全文，文章都在围绕着人工智能对气候的影响来展开，所以D选项AI: A Threat or a Contributor to the Climate?(人工智能：对气候的威胁还是贡献？)准确地概括了文章关于人工智能对气候影响的讨论，既提到了人们的担忧（威胁），又提到了它的环保潜力（贡献），作为文章题目最合适，故选D项。 话题 6 科技前沿 Passage 1 Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new artificial intelligence(AI)method that can accurately predict gene (基因) activity in any human cell, essentially revealing the cell’s inner mechanisms (机制). Detailed in the latest issue of Nature, this system has the potential to change how scientists study cancer, genetic disorders, and other diseases. “Predictive generalizable computational models allow to reveal biological processes in a fast and accurate way. These methods can effectively conduct lots of computational experiments, boosting and guiding traditional experimental approaches,” says Raul Rabadan, senior author of the new paper. Traditional biological methods show how cells function or respond to changes, but they lack the ability to predict these processes. Recent advances in AI and massive biological data collections are making this shift possible. However, using AI to predict gene activity inside cells has been a greater challenge — until now. Rabadan’s team developed an AI model trained on gene expression data from over 1.3 million normal human cells. Unlike earlier models trained on limited data, this system uses genome sequences (基因组序列) and accessibility data to predict which genes are active in any cell. The process is similar to how language models like MindLink, an AI chat tool, work: It learns patterns from data and applies them to new situations. Testing showed the model could accurately predict gene activity in cell types it had not encountered, matching experimental results closely. The researchers applied the AI model to study pediatric leukemia, a childhood cancer caused by inherited mutations (遗传变异). The model predicted how these mutations disturb critical processes in cells, a finding later confirmed through experiments. This understanding highlights the specific mechanisms causing the disease. The AI model could also reveal unexplored regions of the genome, often linked to cancer. These “dark” regions may play key roles in disease. Already, Rabadan is working with researchers at Columbia and other universities, exploring different cancers, from brain to blood cancers, learning the grammar of regulation in normal cells, and how cells change in the process of cancer development. 1．What is a problem about traditional biological methods? A．They are difficult to combine with AI. B．They can’t predict how cells work. C．They are expensive in plenty of research. D．They can’t collect biological data effectively. 2．Why does the author mention MindLink in paragraph 4? A．To remove public doubts about AI chat tools. B．To introduce the disadvantages of AI tools. C．To explain the experimental results from Rabadan’s team. D．To clarify how the AI model functions. 3．What does paragraph 5 mainly stress about the new AI model? A．Its popularity. B．Its application value. C．Its complexity. D．Its design inspiration. 4．Which can be a suitable title for the text? A．New AI Model Exposes Secrets of Human Cells B．Scientists Unlock the Secret of Blood Cancers C．Advances in AI Fuel a Heated Debate in Biology D．AI Tools Are Widely Used to Treat Rare Diseases 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．B 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了哥伦比亚大学团队开发了一种能精准预测人类细胞基因活动的AI模型，通过分析130万细胞数据揭示细胞内部机制，并在儿科白血病研究中验证其应用潜力，为疾病研究提供新工具。 1．细节理解题。根据第三段中“Traditional biological methods show how cells function or respond to changes, but they lack the ability to predict these processes.(传统的生物学方法能够展示细胞如何运作或应对变化，但这些方法无法预测这些过程)”可知，传统生物学方法无法预测细胞如何工作。故选B项。 2．推理判断题。根据第四段中“Unlike earlier models trained on limited data, this system uses genome sequences (基因组序列) and accessibility data to predict which genes are active in any cell. The process is similar to how language models like MindLink, an AI chat tool, work: It learns patterns from data and applies them to new situations.(与早期基于有限数据训练的模型不同，该系统利用基因信息和可及性数据来预测任何细胞中哪些基因处于活跃状态。这个过程类似于MindLink等AI聊天工具的语言模型工作原理：系统从数据中学习规律模式，并将其应用于新的场景中)”可推知，作者通过把该系统的工作过程类比为MindLink语言模型的工作原理，解释该团队的AI模型如何通过基因数据预测细胞活动。故选D项。 3．主旨大意题。根据第五段“The researchers applied the AI model to study pediatric leukemia, a childhood cancer caused by inherited mutations (遗传变异). The model predicted how these mutations disturb critical processes in cells, a finding later confirmed through experiments. This understanding highlights the specific mechanisms causing the disease. The AI model could also reveal unexplored regions of the genome, often linked to cancer. These “dark” regions may play key roles in disease.(研究人员将人工智能模型应用于研究儿童白血病，这是一种由遗传变异引起的儿童癌症。该模型预测了这些突变如何干扰细胞中的关键过程，这一发现后来通过实验得到了证实。这一认识强调了导致该疾病的具体机制。人工智能模型还可以揭示基因组中未被探索的区域，这些区域通常与癌症有关。这些“黑暗”区域可能在疾病中起关键作用)”可知，第五段重点描述该模型在儿科白血病研究中的实际应用，证明其应用于解决医学问题的价值。故选B项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是第一段中“Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) method that can accurately predict gene (基因) activity in any human cell, essentially revealing the cell’s inner mechanisms(机制).(哥伦比亚大学的研究人员开发了一种新的人工智能（AI）方法，可以准确预测任何人类细胞中的基因活动，从本质上揭示细胞的内部机制)”可知，文章围绕一种能精准预测人类细胞基因活动的AI模型展开，该模型由哥伦比亚大学团队开发，可以揭示细胞内部运作机制，具有巨大应用潜力，为疾病研究提供了新工具。因此，A项“新的AI模型揭示了人类细胞的秘密”概括这一主题，适合用作文章标题。故选A项。 Passage 2 A new study in the journal Scientific Reports finds AI chatbots can imitate famous poets so effectively that they can fool many human readers, and non-experts often can’t reliably distinguish between poems written by William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot or ChatGPT-3.5. The researchers conducted two experiments: the first asked participants to determine whether a poem was written by a human or AI, and the second assessed the quality of the poems. In both cases, the AI-generated poems either passed as human-written or even outperformed those by human writers. Participants, who were unaware of the true origins of the poems, rated the AI-generated poems higher on average, considering them more inspiring, meaningful, moving, and profound than the human-authored ones. So, how did this happen? Researchers believe the appeal of AI-generated poems lies in their simplicity and clarity. These poems better convey an image, mood, emotion, or theme to non-expert poetry readers. Consequently, participants might have misunderstood the complexity of human poetry as AI incoherence (不连贯性). Understanding human-authored poetry also requires deep and critical thinking. However, modern readers seem unwilling to engage in this kind of mental labor, preferring texts that offer “instant answers,” writes Andrew Dean, a literary scholar at Deakin University in Australia. Michele Elam, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI, raised a key concern about how AI may shape people’s relationships with art. She argued that the issue isn’t whether AI-generated poetry can match or exceed human authenticity (真实性) but that we might lose sight of how art is connected to our lived experiences. “Literature, including poetry, is meaningful because it provides a way of naming and describing our realities,” Elam wrote in an email, “If we only see selected images and language in our social feeds, it could limit our ability to understand the world, remember the past, and imagine the future.” 1．What can we learn from the two experiments? A．Human poems are more creative than AI-generated poems. B．Many participants can distinguish AI-generated poems quickly. C．Only a small number of participants preferred AI-generated poems. D．AI-generated poems won higher praise than human poems on average. 2．Which of the following is a characteristic of AI-generated poems according to the passage? A．They are full of complex language. B．They are simple and clear in expression. C．They are hard to understand for non-experts. D．They demand a lot of critical thinking from readers. 3．The misunderstanding of human-authored poetry as AI-incoherence by participants may be due to ________. A．The inherent defects in human-authored poetry. B．The poor quality of the language used in human-authored poetry. C．The lack of proper education on appreciating poetry among participants. D．The participants’ habit of expecting simplicity, as AI-generated poems provided. 4．Which statement will Michele Elam probably agree with? A．AI is revolutionizing the way we appreciate literary works. B．AI-generated literature has challenged human writers’ abilities. C．AI-generated art helps enhance our understanding of the world. D．AI may lead to a disconnection between art and human experiences. 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．D 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了一项关于人工智能聊天机器人模仿著名诗人创作诗歌的研究，包括研究的实验过程、结果以及相关学者对此的观点和担忧。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句“Participants, who were unaware of the true origins of the poems, rated the AI-generated poems higher on average, considering them more inspiring, meaningful, moving, and profound than the human-authored ones. (参与者并不知道这些诗歌的真正来源，他们对人工智能生成的诗歌的平均评分更高，认为它们比人类创作的诗歌更具启发性、更有意义、更动人、更深刻。)”从实验结果可知，人工智能生成的诗歌平均获得了比人类诗歌更高的评价。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段第二句“Researchers believe the appeal of AI-generated poems lies in their simplicity and clarity. (研究人员认为，人工智能生成的诗歌的吸引力在于其简洁明了。)”可知，人工智能生成的诗歌的特点是表达简洁明了。故选B。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段中“Consequently, participants might have misunderstood the complexity of human poetry as AI incoherence (不连贯性). Understanding human-authored poetry also requires deep and critical thinking. However, modern readers seem unwilling to engage in this kind of mental labor, preferring texts that offer “instant answers,” writes Andrew Dean, a literary scholar at Deakin University in Australia. (因此，参与者可能将人类诗歌的复杂性误解为人工智能的不连贯性。理解人类创作的诗歌也需要深入和批判性的思考。然而，澳大利亚迪肯大学的文学学者安德鲁・迪恩写道，现代读者似乎不愿意进行这种脑力劳动，更喜欢提供“即时答案”的文本。)”可知，参与者将人类诗歌误解为人工智能的不连贯性，可能是因为他们习惯了人工智能诗歌提供的简洁，而不愿意花脑力理解人类诗歌的复杂性。故选D。 4．推理判断题。根据第四段第二句“She argued that the issue isn’t whether AI-generated poetry can match or exceed human authenticity but that we might lose sight of how art is connected to our lived experiences. (她认为，问题不在于人工智能生成的诗歌是否能达到或超越人类的真实性，而在于我们可能会忽视艺术与我们生活体验之间的联系。)”可知，Michele Elam认为人工智能可能会导致艺术与人类体验之间的脱节。故选D。 Passage 3 Shadows are often associated with darkness and uncertainty. Now, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) are giving shadows a positive spin by demonstrating a way to harness this common but often overlooked optical (光学的) effect to generate electricity. The team created a device called a shadow-effect energy generator (SEG), which makes use of the contrast in illumination (照明) between lit and shadowed areas to generate electricity. It’s made up of a series of thin strips of gold film on a silicon layer, which is then placed on a flexible plastic base. “In conventional optoelectronics (光电子学) where a steady source of light is used to power devices, shadows are undesirable, since they degrade the performance of devices. In this work, we took advantage of the illumination contrast caused by shadows as an indirect source of power. The contrast in illumination causes a voltage (电压) difference between the shadow and illuminated sections, resulting in an electric current. This novel concept of harvesting energy in the presence of shadows is unprecedented.” explained research team leader Professor Tan Swee Ching. Mobile electronic devices such as smart phones, smart glasses and e-watches require efficient and continuous power supply. As these devices are worn both indoors and outdoors, wearable power sources that could harness surrounding light can po$